Funds to boost local tourism

The State Government has acknowledged Nannup’s potential as a tourism hotspot by rewarding the town in the latest round of its Regional Economic Development Grants program.

Five South West projects shared $571,826 of funding, with two of them Southern Forest-based initiatives.

The Nannup Shire Council received $46,881 for its Nannup Trail Town Infrastructure. Trail user facilities will be installed at the Foreshore Park to support Nannup to become an accredited Trail Town for cycling, walking, canoeing and horse-riding.

The project includes a multi-purpose wash-down bay, bike maintenance equipment, signs and the construction of a path.

The Southern Forests Blackwood Valley Tourism Association received $74,945 for its industry development project.

Money will be used to create a unified marketing approach for the region, to lead to increased visitation and tourism spending.

Association chairman Paul Matenaar said the funding was perfectly timed for the association.

“It will help us be the united and strong voice for tourism in the Southern Forests and Blackwood Valley region for the purpose (of) increasing the tourism profile, tourist visitation and expenditure to benefit of our local economy, jobs and businesses,” he said.

Association chief executive Wendy Duncan said the funding gave the group an opportunity to showcase the great mix of calm and chaos that can be experienced a stone’s throw from all the big-name places.

Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan said tourism was a vital economic contributor to the South West and the RED grants would help create the infrastructure to highlight Nannup’s natural beauty.

“New hospitality and tourism-based projects will create local jobs and opportunities for the community,” she said.

“In Nannup, there are great stories to be told and we are hopeful these grants will assist to build the town’s tourism capability as well as its accreditation as a Trail Town, which is an amazing growth industry.”