Byron Bay NIMBYs will doubtless be less than chuffed to find that the Greens chose the Byron Bay Surf Club to announce their new tourism plan yesterday.
What, more tourists for Byron? Surely not.
But the Greens tourism spokesperson Senator Janet Rice, who was joined by Richmond candidate Dawn Walker for the announcement, said the plan would ‘create jobs and protect the precious places in the northern rivers.’
Ms Rice said that industries like tourism were healthier for the environment than gas mining, which the major parties had attempted to foist on the community.
‘The northern rivers is renowned for its tourism, but we have to make sure we keep investing in bringing in visitors rather than coal seam gas,’ said Senator Rice.
‘Our tourism investment would help regional economies make the move from the old ‘dig it up and ship it out’ mindset of the 19th and 20th centuries to the long-term, sustainable industries of the future.
‘Australia’s clean, green environment is a huge drawcard for domestic and international tourists alike, and the Northern Rivers is a shining example.
‘We know that smart investment in tourism infrastructure will tap into the current potential of local tourism,’ she said.
One of the critical issues facing coastal councils with high tourist populations is the impost on infrastructure, such as roads and parks.
A spokesperson for Senator Rice, who also holds transport portfolio, told Echonetdaily she had recently announced a plan for an ‘infrastructure bank’, which would give local government the power to bid for a project a $75 billion fund.
The Greens plan would:
- Provide a $60 million boost to tourism in regional and rural Australia, through grants for local tourism operators, community groups and local governments.
- Help Tourism Australia to attract more visitors and generate sustainable economic activity with a $40 million funding boost
- Put in place strong environmental laws that will stop the biodiversity crisis, save our threatened species, and protect the precious places that visitors love
Greens candidate for Richmond Dawn Walker said the grants program could ‘inject funds for projects like adventure tours for backpackers or support clean, healthy food producers in our local area.’
‘The Greens are the only party committed to a sustainable economic future for our rural and regional areas,’ said Ms Walker.
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