❓ Question regarding the DISCOVR WA app, developed under the Parks for People program, and its role in promoting nature-based tourism and engaging younger generations with WA's conservation estate.
AnsweredQoN 679Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PARKS FOR PEOPLE PROGRAM — DISCOVR WA APP
679. Mr M.J. COWPER to the Minister for
Environment:
Before I ask my question, I acknowledge
the year 9–10 Hale Hockey ladies who are here today as guests of the
member for Dawesville.
I was pleased to see that the
minister recently announced a new smart phone app to promote nature-based
tourism in our state. Could the minister please explain how this new app works
and why it is so important?
679. Mr M.J. COWPER to the Minister for
Environment:
Before I ask my question, I acknowledge
the year 9–10 Hale Hockey ladies who are here today as guests of the
member for Dawesville.
I was pleased to see that the
minister recently announced a new smart phone app to promote nature-based
tourism in our state. Could the minister please explain how this new app works
and why it is so important?
AnswerView source ↗
I
thank the member for Murray–Wellington for the question. The DISCOVR WA parks app
was developed as part of this government's Parks for People program.
We are particularly proud of this program. Under the Liberal–National
government, the Parks for People program has been developed and delivered on
the ethos that parks should be accessible for all Western Australians and they
should be encouraged to experience our national parks and conservation areas.
On one hand, the program will promote local tourism and grow the local tourism
industry off the back of the natural wonders in this state. Parks for People
has been very successful in playing a role in that. There is also another very
important part of the ethos behind Parks for People. In the era of an
increasingly urbanised generation of kids growing up, it will ensure that the
next generation of Western Australians has the opportunity to and is encouraged
to experience our conservation estate. In experiencing our conservation estate,
as they grow up—as many members in this house would have had the
opportunity to do so— the next
generation will also then understand why it is important to look after our
conservation estate into the future. That equally applies to the many, many new
Western Australians who have arrived here in recent years.
This
is where apps such as DISCOVR WA come in. It particularly targets the
tech-savvy amongst us, including the younger generation who may be into gaming
on their phones. The Minister for Innovation will be right across it; he is
probably downloading the app right now. The member for Hillarys might struggle
with it a little bit.
Several members interjected.
Mr A.P. JACOB : For the tech-savvy
amongst us, this app is a really good way to engage with the up-and-coming
generation in this state.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Thank you!
Mr A.P. JACOB : It will engage with —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Thank you!
Mr A.P. JACOB : Thank you, Mr
Speaker. We often say that part of the concern with young people growing up in Western
Australia is their attraction to screens and the gaming culture that exists. It
is great that technology has advanced to this point. We are using that
technology to get out and promote our unique environment in Western Australia.
We are using it as a way to encourage people who are tech-savvy and people who
are perhaps younger who have not had the chance to get out into Western Australia's
nature and enjoy our facilities. When they get out there, people will see
visitor facilities to the standard of which we have never seen in Western Australia,
such as the lookout in Torndirrup National Park down at The Gap in Albany, and
the 450 new caravanning and camping bays that we are delivering along with new
camp kitchens, toilets and other facilities. There are also facilities such as
Granite Skywalk in Porongurup National Park and the new lookout that will be
going into Kalbarri National Park.
thank the member for Murray–Wellington for the question. The DISCOVR WA parks app
was developed as part of this government's Parks for People program.
We are particularly proud of this program. Under the Liberal–National
government, the Parks for People program has been developed and delivered on
the ethos that parks should be accessible for all Western Australians and they
should be encouraged to experience our national parks and conservation areas.
On one hand, the program will promote local tourism and grow the local tourism
industry off the back of the natural wonders in this state. Parks for People
has been very successful in playing a role in that. There is also another very
important part of the ethos behind Parks for People. In the era of an
increasingly urbanised generation of kids growing up, it will ensure that the
next generation of Western Australians has the opportunity to and is encouraged
to experience our conservation estate. In experiencing our conservation estate,
as they grow up—as many members in this house would have had the
opportunity to do so— the next
generation will also then understand why it is important to look after our
conservation estate into the future. That equally applies to the many, many new
Western Australians who have arrived here in recent years.
This
is where apps such as DISCOVR WA come in. It particularly targets the
tech-savvy amongst us, including the younger generation who may be into gaming
on their phones. The Minister for Innovation will be right across it; he is
probably downloading the app right now. The member for Hillarys might struggle
with it a little bit.
Several members interjected.
Mr A.P. JACOB : For the tech-savvy
amongst us, this app is a really good way to engage with the up-and-coming
generation in this state.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Thank you!
Mr A.P. JACOB : It will engage with —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Thank you!
Mr A.P. JACOB : Thank you, Mr
Speaker. We often say that part of the concern with young people growing up in Western
Australia is their attraction to screens and the gaming culture that exists. It
is great that technology has advanced to this point. We are using that
technology to get out and promote our unique environment in Western Australia.
We are using it as a way to encourage people who are tech-savvy and people who
are perhaps younger who have not had the chance to get out into Western Australia's
nature and enjoy our facilities. When they get out there, people will see
visitor facilities to the standard of which we have never seen in Western Australia,
such as the lookout in Torndirrup National Park down at The Gap in Albany, and
the 450 new caravanning and camping bays that we are delivering along with new
camp kitchens, toilets and other facilities. There are also facilities such as
Granite Skywalk in Porongurup National Park and the new lookout that will be
going into Kalbarri National Park.
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