Home›Questions on Notice›QoN 1412

❓ Hon Martin Aldridge questions the government regarding funding increases, management changes, and visitor projections for Araluen Botanic Park following a media statement about a funding boost. The government provides details on funding allocations, management responsibilities, and visitor numbers, while noting that a long-term lease agreement and visitor number projections are still in development.

AnsweredQoN 1412Legislative Council

Asked

14 June 2018

Member

Hon Martin Aldridge

Portfolio

Planning

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to the government media statement entitled Funding boost to help Araluen tourism bloom , dated 4 June 2018, and I ask: (a) is the $300,000 'one-off transfer' in addition to the $350,000 annual increase from 2018-2019; (b) please provide a breakdown of funding to the Araluen Botanic Park in 2017-2018 and 2018-2019; (c) which Minister has direct responsibility for Araluen Botanic Park; (d) the Araluen Botanic Park website refers to it being managed by the 'Department of Conservation, Biodiversity and Attractions, Parks and Wildlife', is that correct; (e) if yes to (d), why was the Minister for Environment absent from the media statement above mentioned; (f) please table the business case that has resulted in the increased funding and 10 year agreement; (g) please table the ten year agreement referred to in the media statement above mentioned; (h) how many visitors have visited the Araluen Botanic Park in each of the last five years including 2017-2018; and (i) what is the projected increase in visitor numbers expected from the increased funding per year across the ten year agreement?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered

23 August 2018

Responded by

Minister for Environment representing the Minister for Planning

Response time

9 days

(a) The $300,000 consists of previously unspent capital works allocations, held in trust by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA). This is now being transferred to the Araluen Botanic Park Foundation (ABPF) as DBCA has ceased management.
(b) In 2017-18, Araluen Botanic Park received $850,000 funding for operations from DBCA. For 2018-19, Araluen Botanic Park will receive $950,000 for operations. $100,000 is also provided for capital improvements.
The increase in operational funds reflects the fact that the grant for Araluen had not been increased in the past and a slight increase was warranted particularly as additional land was being formally added to the management area which will be included in the new lease.
(c) The Minister for Planning.
(d) The previous management agreement between DBCA and the Western Australian Planning Commission expired on 30 June 2018. As of 1 July 2018, the ABPF manages the park.
(e) Not applicable
(f) As part of the 2018-19 State Budget process, the Western Australian Planning Commission, as owner of the park, made a funding proposal to the Government which provided details of the proposed grant, governance and change of management structure.
(g) A draft ten-year lease agreement is currently with the ABPF for consideration.
(h) The following paying visitor numbers have been supplied by the ABPF (rounded to the nearest 100): 2013 14 – 98,000; 2014-15 – 108,000; 2015-16 – 119,700; 2016-17 – 128,100; 2017-18 – 115,200.
(i) The ABPF is currently preparing a five-year management plan as part of the lease negotiations. The impact of visitor numbers cannot be quantified at this stage.

View on Parliament of WA