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

5 . Hervey Bay Food and Beverage Attraction
A major all weather visitor attraction focussed on food and
beverage to complement this established theme in
Bundaberg. Possibilities include liquor, organic fruit and
nuts, organic chocolate, and locally sourced seafood.
6 . Maryborough Historic Precinct and Cultural Walk
Historic precinct and cultural walk incorporating the planned
Brolga to Bridge Plan (mangrove management plan
inclusive).
7 . Fraser Coast Convention and Entertainment Centre
A multi-purpose convention and entertainment centre with
amenities to include meeting and function facilities to cater
for a 350+ seated event, or large scale standing and seating
entertainment function (including trade shows and concerts)
exceeding 3000 people (which may be linked to a branded
hotel).
Each of the catalyst projects is canvassed in more detail later in
this TOP.
Catalyst Infrastructure Projects
The following are the catalyst infrastructure projects required to
support the ongoing growth and sustainable development of
tourism across the two regions.
1 . Bundaberg Airport Re-development
Bundaberg Airport Industrial Park, attracting a “high yield”
visitor market with associated education and business
opportunities including:
� Fly in – fly out light aircraft related accommodation at
Kensington Lakes;
� The opportunity for extensive hangar parking;
� A recreational aircraft manufacture hub with education
and business opportunities; and
� Acknowledging that the airport runway is to be extended
by 2010 to enable it to take jet aircraft.
2 . Hervey Bay Coastal Light Rail
A people mover/low impact loop option such as light rail or
similar for Hervey Bay to assist in moving people around
effectively and speedily along the Esplanade from the
Urangan Marina up to and through the CBD/retail area. A
stage 2 expansion could include a link to Maryborough. The
focus is on a low-impact light rail or tram network.
3 . Bruce Highway Upgrade
Creating more overtaking opportunities between Gympie,
Maryborough, Hervey Bay and Bundaberg on both the
Bruce (A1) and Isis (A3) Highways to reduce travel times and
improve safety.
4 . Bundaberg and Fraser Coast Regional Road Network
Upgrade and Signage
Clearly signed and serviced network of 'drive tourism' routes
in coastal and hinterland areas of the two regions focussed
on sealed roads offering significant tourist attractions such
as national parks and expanded agri-tourism experiences.
Consideration should be given to sealing gravel roads
offering tourist attractions adjacent to the routes if justified
by traffic volumes along the routes. 6
Additional Infrastructure and
Investment Projects
Additional infrastructure projects which have been detailed (not
necessarily in any priority order) include:
� Develop new attractions and activities to generate longer
lengths of stay;
� Secure skilled and semi-skilled staff;
� Improve the supply of telecommunication services to the
region;
� Introduce effective waste management systems;
� Rail infrastructure for the hinterland;
� Boating marinas for the region;
� Airport infrastructure in the region;
� Improving the electricity supply within the region;
� Ensure an adequate drinking water supply for the region;
� Expand the number of and upgrade the accommodation
facilities catering to leisure and business visitor markets; and
� Better integrated and streamlined approach with
government agencies and local government to secure
development approvals and overcome infrastructure
blockages.
Implementation
The TOP aims to provide a clear set of priority projects for the
destinations to guide product development partnerships and
local planning. More importantly, the plan provides a vision and
direction for future tourism development that meets the needs
of the community and consumers alike.
The Bundaberg and Fraser Coast regions need to work
synergistically and take ownership for implementation of this
TOP so as to achieve improved visitor growth, increased
lengths of stay and improved visitor yields across both regions.
The viability of a number of the identified projects will be
dependent upon encouraging greater visitor dispersal
throughout both regions and changing the psyche of visitors to
think of undertaking experiences on the islands, in the major
cities, along the length of the coastline and into the hinterland.
In order for tourism and support infrastructure projects in this
TOP to be realised in an effective and timely manner, a number
of implementation mechanisms are necessary. The Bundaberg
and North Burnett and Fraser Coast Regional Tourism
Organisations will be responsible for managing and coordinating
the implementation of the TOP in partnership with TQ and State
and Local Government. The region’s Destination Management
Officer (DMO) will monitor progress and assist in forming project
groups of relevant agencies as required to take the project
recommendations forward.
Hervey Bay
6 It is noted, however, that without sealed roads many people won’t travel (especially visitors). Thus capacity will not increase and some areas may therefore never get an
opportunity to deliver new product or experiences. In addition, rental car companies currently specifically exclude payout to damage incurred on non-sealed roads,
effectively barring even adventurous travellers from driving on hinterland roads that are gravel.
5
Executive summary