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An AAP report says that thousands of international tourists could be swinging their clubs across the Nullarbor on the world’s longest golf course by 2008 after a funding injection for the ambitious project today.
Tourism Minister Fran Bailey today announced $331,000 funding for the Nullarbor links project, in which an 18-hole golf course will be built over 1,365km and across two states.
The money is part of a package of more than $4.8 million for tourism initiatives in regional areas struggling from drought.
Beginning at Kalgoorlie in Western Australia, a hole — complete with tee, rugged outback fairway and a green – will be placed at towns and one working sheep station along the Eyre Highway to Ceduna in South Australia.
Eyre Highway Operators Association secretary Alf Caputo said the project – first conceived by one of the highway’s roadhouse managers in 2000 – would be an international icon.
“You won’t be able to do this anywhere else, will you?” Mr Caputo told AAP. “It’s probably the most unique thing.”
He said the idea was to slow down the 250,000 people who travelled the Eyre Highway each year. “When we released this about three years ago the whole world stood up and took notice,” Mr Caputo said.
“There were newspaper articles in every major newspaper throughout the world.
“It’ll be West Australia’s hugest international icon.”
He said several American tourists had already travelled to the area to play the existing four holes but he believed the idea would be a hit among Japanese tourists as well.
“The Japanese are prepared to play golf on a rooftop, that’s how keen they are,” he said. “Can you imagine? “They’ll be flocking in hordes to get over here and play this.”
He said the funding towards the $800,000 project had allowed them to “get up and running” for a completion date midway through 2008.
Ms Bailey said it was hoped the funding for all 35 regional tourism projects would boost tourism in Australia’s drought-ravaged outback, where tourism generated about $32 billion each year.
“This funding will help local regions diversify and deliver a lasting economic benefit,” Ms Bailey said.
She said tourism already created 200,000 jobs in regional Australia and it was hoped more jobs could be established.
Tourism and Transport Forum (TTF) managing director Christopher Brown said tourism was crucial for regional economies and would be integral to their recovery from the drought.
“Regional tourism is often an unsung hero of the Australian tourism industry, yet its economic contribution is huge,” Mr Brown said.
He said 48 cents in every tourism dollar was spent in regional areas.
Report by The Mole from AAP
John Alwyn-Jones
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