Boulia’s Min Min attraction to receive funding for upgrades

Boulia’s popular Min Min light tourist attraction is to receive $477,000 from the Queensland Government to fund renovations to its heritage building including essential disability access upgrades. Boulia Shire Council will contribute $52,000 to the total project cost of $529,000.

Owned and operated by Boulia Shire Council since 2000, the Encounter is a unique animatronics and theatrical experience based around the famed Min Min light phenomenon - over the years, travellers have witnessed the mysterious lights, described as floating balls of colour glowing in the outback night.

Boulia Mayor Eric (Rick) Britton adds “the current design of the Encounter and tourist information centre is not accessible to all patrons and the façade needs to be modernised to match the high-tech brilliance of the tourism experience.”

Queensland Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development Steven Miles notes that the State Government wants “the rest of the nation and, when international travel opens up again, the world to experience this phenomenon.

“The upgrades will have a significant impact on the quality of Boulia’s tourism offering and economic recovery, and the region’s tourism.

The catalytic infrastructure project is funded through the Building Acceleration Fund, part of the new $3.34 billion Queensland Jobs Fund.

Boulia is home to the famous camel races, an annual event that has historically attracted over 7000 people.

Mayor Britton advised “the Min Min Encounter and Heritage Complex is the hook that invites tourist to stay another day.”

Council will ultimately own and take responsibility for ongoing operation, maintenance and replacement costs associated with the infrastructure.

Preliminary works to upgrade the technology are already underway. Works on the façade will begin in October and be completed by the end of the year.

For more information about the Min Min Encounter visit Min Min Encounter Visitor Information Centre – Boulia Shire Council