BUSHFIRES — STIRLING RANGE NATIONAL PARK —
TOURISM
493. Hon COLIN de GRUSSA to the Minister for Environment:
I refer to the closure of walk trials in Stirling Range
National Park since the Boxing Day bushfires in 2019 and the impact this has
had on local businesses reliant on park visitors.
(1) Will the
minister commit to reopening Stirling Range National Park and the Bluff Knoll
walk trail by this weekend?
(2) When will
other walk trails in the national park, including Mt Toolbrunup and Mt Trio, be
open?
(3) What
resources have been applied to the Stirling Range bushfire recovery effort,
taking into account that local businesses have had little or no income for
nearly five months?
(4) Has the
government prepared a tourism recovery plan for the area to assist local
businesses to recover from the bushfire and COVID-19?
Hon STEPHEN DAWSON
replied:
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the
question.
(1) Stirling Range National Park has been open since
January 2020. As I announced earlier today, the Bluff Knoll walk trail
will reopen at 8.00 am on Friday, 22 May 2020.
(2) Walk
trails within the national park have been progressively reopened since the
fire. Mt Toolbrunup and Mt Trio will reopen at 8.00 am on Saturday, 23 May
2020.
(3) Four work crews assisted in the bushfire effort and
a dedicated crew of 10 has been working on the Bluff Knoll walk trail.
(4) I am
advised by the Minister for Tourism that as a direct result of COVID-19, the
government paused all tourism marketing
activity earlier this year. However, Tourism Western Australia is now preparing
a major intrastate campaign that will encourage people to get out and
explore all regions of the state during the recovery phase. Tourism WA is also
progressing the development of a 12-month marketing plan with the Australia's
South West regional tourism organisation and will ensure that an opportunity to
promote the Stirling Range attractions is discussed with the local tourism
organisation Amazing South Coast.