Head - Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing

1 Context
6
Head 1 Context
1 .1 The Bundaberg and Fraser
Coast Regions
The Bundaberg and Fraser Coast tourism regions neighbour
each other. They are, however, distinct regions with currently
quite different tourism product. They offer different visitor
experiences and yet have quite similar visitor profiles for target
markets. Geographically, both regions form part of the larger
Wide Bay Burnett Region.
Each region is supported by their own Regional Tourism
Organisation (RTO) 7 and by its own Destination Management
Plan (DMP) 8.
The two regions incorporate and/or market significant marine
environments including the most southerly part of the Great
Barrier Reef Marine Park (being Lady Musgrave and Lady Elliot
islands) and the World Heritage listed Fraser Island. There are
also a number of national parks both on the coast and in the
hinterland which offer special natural experiences. Many of
these natural environments currently lack the infrastructure to
support visitation for example good access roads, signage,
interpretation, walking trails and recreational facilities.
The tourism nodes and precincts within the two regions
include:
� The coastal areas surrounding Bundaberg City from Burnett
Heads to Coonarr (including Mon Repos), with future
potential for new tourism nodes at Woodgate Beach and
Burrum Heads (in Fraser Coast).
� Bundaberg City and surrounds: including the new Airport
Industrial Park and the Botanical Gardens with the Hinkler
Hall of Aviation.
� The western hinterland area extending from Monto through
Eidsvold, Mundubbera, Gayndah, Biggenden and Childers
(dominated currently by horticulture and sugar cane and
potential future mining activity with limited tourism
infrastructure) but focussed on recreational activity around
gorges, dams, lakes and rivers, farms and heritage towns.
Bundaberg-Fraser Coast Tourism Opportunity Plan 2009-2019
� Maryborough: an historic Queensland town with both port
and extensive rail heritage.
� Fraser Island: the largest sand island in the world and a
World Heritage Area listed site.
� Hervey Bay City and the coastal beach surrounds focussed
on the Esplanade.
� The Fraser Coast hinterland areas of Tiaro and Woocoo.
� The Fraser Island southern access areas of Gympie, Tin Can
Bay and Rainbow Beach.
The Bundaberg region encompasses a diversity of coastal and
hinterland areas as well as the city of Bundaberg itself. 9 Since
the amalgamation of local authorities into regional councils in
March 2008 the region incorporates the Regional Councils (RCs)
of: Bundaberg Regional Council (incorporating Kolan, Isis and
Burnett) and North Burnett Regional Council (incorporating the
shires of Biggenden, Eidsvold, Gayndah; Monto, Mundubbera
and Perry). It should be noted also that at the 2008 elections,
Miriam Vale, incorporating the townships of Agnes Water and
Seventeen Seventy, became part of Gladstone Regional Council.
As such, Miriam Vale will form part of the Central Queensland
TOP.
The Fraser Coast offers visitors a variety of natural attractions,
experiences and activities, including four wheel drive adventures,
fishing, nature-based activities, and authentic country heritage
and history experiences. 10 Following the March 2008 local
authority elections the area is now known as Fraser Coast
Regional Council incorporating the City of Hervey Bay, the City
of Maryborough, the Shire of Woocoo and Divisions 1 and 2 of
Tiaro Shire.
The following map reflects the Fraser Coast and Bundaberg
tourism regions.
7 Bundaberg Region Tourism and Fraser Coast South Burnett Regional Tourism Board.
8 The DMPs were both produced in early 2007.
9 Bundaberg Region Destination Management Plan, DTRDI (ex Department for Tourism, Fair Trading, Wine Industry Development and Women),
Tourism Queensland and Bundaberg Region Tourism, 2007, page 14.
10 Destination Management Plan for Tourism in the Fraser Coast, DTRDI (ex Department for Tourism, Fair Trading, Wine Industry Development and Women),
Tourism Queensland and Fraser Coast South Burnett Regional Tourism Board, 2007, page 16