Rick Wilson (O'Connor, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Last Wednesday the Minister for Tourism and International Education, Senator Richard Colbeck, paid a flying visit to the Great Southern area of my electorate of O'Connor. We covered some serious ground visiting some of the successful projects funded through the recent Tourism Demand Driver Infrastructure program. The Albany mayor, Dennis Wellington, briefed the minister on plans to use their $250,000 grant to relocate the visitor centre to the town square in the heart of the city.

Out at the old whaling station, the general manager of Discovery Bay Tourism Experience, Philip Cox, hosted the minister and 50 local tour operators at a wonderful lunch on the old Cheynes IV whale-chasing vessel overlooking picturesque Frenchman Bay. Today, Discovery Bay houses a museum relating Albany's whaling history, botanical gardens and a wildlife park. Popular with locals and tourists from all over Australia and overseas, it is one of the many must-see attractions on the south coast.

In Denmark we visited the trail head of the newly funded Wilderness Ocean Walk, which showcases spectacular coastal scenery and will be an exciting addition to the iconic 1,000-kilometre Bibbulmun walk and Munda Biddi bike trail.

In Mount Barker, the Rotary Club met the minister atop Mount Barker's Wireless Hill to show him the breathtaking vista from the lookout they had built with their own funds. The 360-degree panorama takes in the Stirling Range and Porongurup national parks, the surrounding farmland and vineyards. Plans include a picnic area, walk trails and Indigenous heritage signage, putting Mount Barker on the map for the Great Southern tourist visitation.

I thank the minister for taking the time to visit some of the most scenic and exciting tourist destinations in O'Connor.