Noosa National Park upgraded coastal track open for summer season

1/11/2017

Noosa National Park upgraded coastal track open for summer season

Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien, and State Member for Noosa Glen Elmes, today said the $800,000 Federal and State funded upgraded Noosa National Park coastal walking track will provide new recreational opportunities for locals and visitors to the Park in time for the summer tourist season. 

“The upgraded coastal walking track is complemented by new interpretation signage at the Headland section of Noosa National Park,” Mr O’Brien said.
 
“The track has been constructed to improve access for people with a disability and the upgrade enhances the experience for all visitors to Noosa National Park.  The Headland section is the second most visited national park in Queensland, and the coastal track brings more than 1.4 million visitors each year.  I encourage everyone to experience this iconic natural attraction.
 
“I was pleased to confirm $400,000 in funding from the Coalition Government for the project during the Federal election and it’s fantastic to see the results of that commitment.”
 
State Member for Noosa, Glen Elmes said, “it is important to value and cater to all people and abilities that visit the Noosa National Park – one of Queensland’s most spectacular and most popular.  Parents with prams and people with disabilities should be given every opportunity to experience the beauty of the Park, comfortably and safely alongside surfers carrying surfboards.
 
“Importantly the location and extent of this upgrade to public amenity has been carefully considered so that the delicate balance of built and natural environments is respected, in what is first and foremost a protected parcel of Noosa’s abundant natural heritage.”
 
Mr O’Brien said the project highlighted the importance of investing in infrastructure to create new opportunities for both tourists and locals.
 
“Tourism is a vital industry for Australia and especially in the regions, where 45 cents of every tourist dollar is spent. Over the past three years the number of visitors to regional Australia has increased by 29 per cent, and projects like these will support this growth.
 
“For every dollar earned directly by tourism, another 81 cents is generated in other parts of the economy.”
 
The Coalition Government provided $400,000 through the Tourism Demand Driver Infrastructure (TDDI) programme to the Noosa National Park Coastal Walking Track and Interpretation project.  The Queensland Government also committed $400,000 to the upgrade.

The TDDI programme will invest $43.1 million over four years, including $7.9 million in Queensland, to drive demand, improve quality and increase tourism expenditure to assist the tourism industry in meeting Tourism 2020 targets.