South Australian Government makes parks and nature-based tourism a priority

The South Australian Government is making an $11.8 million commitment in the 2019/20 state budget to improve parks and nature-based tourism experiences.

The picturesque Fleurieu Peninsula has been allocated $6 million over three years to upgrade the Heysen Trail from Cape Jervis to Deep Creek, build a new day visitor facility and a universally accessible walking trail at Deep Creek Conservation Park and upgrade existing campgrounds and amenities.

A new $3.3 million Parks Restoration Fund will be created to fast-track upgrades and improvements to activate nature and heritage-based tourism experiences across South Australia and improve accessibility.

A further $2.5 million will be spent on infrastructure at Glenthorne National Park to support continued development of the park turning 1,500 hectares of open space into a thriving community precinct.

Explaining that the investment in the state’s parks will help build environmentally sustainable recreation and open areas for all South Australian families and communities to enjoy, South Australian Premier Steven Marshall stated "preserving our precious open spaces and opening them up for everyone to enjoy is part of ensuring our state remains a great place to live and work, while also protecting the best of our natural heritage: stunning landscapes, native wildlife and roaming bushland.

“The Heysen Trail on the Fleurieu Peninsula takes in some of our most diverse and breathtaking landscapes and by upgrading facilities we will improve the user-experience and attract more visitors from around the state and across the country.

“By investing more money in our parks, we will make these natural beauties more accessible for everyday South Australians and tourists alike.”

South Australian Minister for Environment and Water David Speirs advised that the infrastructure improvements in South Australia’s parks would improve accessibility, adding "National Parks around South Australia have been under-invested in for far too long and the $3.3 million Parks Restoration Fund will see much needed works and improvements carried out.

“These upgrades will not only enhance our environment but will improve social wellbeing by encouraging more people to get outside and enjoy what our state has to offer.

“Glenthorne National Park will be Adelaide’s second major metropolitan national park and thanks to the Marshall Liberal Government we are preserving and revitalising more than 1,500 hectares of open space.

“This will be a thriving environmental and recreational precinct for the southern suburbs for generations to come.

“We want to increase the number of people who can experience these places and make South Australia a nature-based tourism destination."

Image top of the Heysen Trail.