South Australia’s parks to receive $17 million boost for nature-based tourism

The South Australian Government is planning to deliver a further $17 million investment in the state’s parks in the upcoming State Budget 2020-21 to improve nature-based tourism across South Australia.

Parks across South Australia including at the Flinders Ranges, Yorke Peninsula, Eyre Peninsula, Fleurieu Peninsula, Barossa Valley and Adelaide Hills will be revitalised to drive increased tourism and visitor numbers.

The new funding takes the government’s total investment in South Australian parks to more than $130 million.

South Australian Premier Steven Marshall wants South Australia’s tourism industry to thrive and notes “this is a once-in-a-generation investment that will not only support regional communities and create local jobs, but also protect our precious environment for future generations.

“We are investing in projects that will revitalise parks across South Australia – from the Flinders Ranges to Kangaroo Island as well as opening up our reservoirs.

“This is part of our plan to keep South Australians safe and strong by creating jobs, backing businesses and building what matters.”

South Australian Minister for Environment and Water David Speirs said the State Government’s Parks 2025 initiative was injecting record amounts of funding into South Australia’s national parks and added “the new investment will fund a range of projects, from new visitor facilities and campgrounds to adventure experiences such as mountain bike and hiking trails across the state and improved access at South Australia’s reservoirs.

“This is on top of nature-based tourism projects already funded such as developing an adventure destination in the southern Flinders Ranges as well as significantly improved visitor facilities on Kangaroo Island.

“These upgrades will not only enhance our environment but will improve social wellbeing by encouraging more people to get outside, connect with nature and enjoy what our state has to offer which we have seen is so important during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

New projects to be funded include:

• Mt Lofty Precinct ($3 million) – upgraded infrastructure including trails, amenities and car park

• Innes National Park ($3 million) – new visitor experiences, upgraded campgrounds and improved amenities.

• Fleurieu Peninsula ($3 million) – new mountain biking and hiking destination.

• Flinders Ranges ($2.5 million) – upgraded campgrounds and amenities.

• South Para, Barossa and Warren reservoir precincts ($2 million) – new kayak access, walking trails and day visitor infrastructure.

• Eyre Peninsula Parks ($2 million) – improved coastal tourism experiences through upgraded roads and campgrounds.

• Community access to national parks ($1.5 million) local park infrastructure upgrade projects across the state.

Existing projects include:

Kangaroo Island ($52 million):

• Rebuilding infrastructure in Flinders Chase National Park

• Enhanced visitor experience and facilities at Seal Bay;

• New visitor precinct at Antechamber Bay;

• Upgraded visitor facilities at Murray’s Lagoon;

• A signature camping experience at D’Estrees Bay;

• New visitor experiences at Cape Willoughby.

Increased fire hazard reduction ($18 million) to increase the prescribed burns in parks program by as much as 50%.

Glenthorne National Park ($12.5 million) creating Adelaide’s second metropolitan national park.

The Southern Flinders Ranges National Park ($10 million):

• Developing an international mountain bike destination at Mt Remarkable;

• Upgrading trails for hiking, cycling and horse riding, including a new iconic multi-day hike;

• To upgrade visitor facilities.

Park Renewal Investment ($7.1 million)

Wild South Coast Way on the Heysen Trail ($6 million)

Nature-Based Tourism Co-investment Fund ($5 million)

Ediacara Fossil Experience ($3 million) to create a major visitor experience at Nilpena to showcase our unique Ediacaran fossils which are 550 million years old.

Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park ($1 million) to renew visitor infrastructure and experiences.

Cleland Wildlife Park ($1 million) to build a new purpose-built koala hold facility.

Image top: Innes National Park to receive $3 million for new visitor experiences, upgraded campgrounds and improved amenities. Courtesy of environment.sa.gov.au/

Image above: Eyre Peninsula Parks is to receive $2 million to improve coastal tourism experiences through upgraded roads and campgrounds. Courtesy of parks.sa.gov.au/