State Govt withdraws funding support for icon
25 January 2008
The tourist icon project in the Donnelly Valley had its genesis some 9 years ago under the Regional Forest Agreement (RFA) between the Federal Government and the State Government.
A promise was also later made by the Gallop State Labor Government under the Protecting our old growth forests policy to “undertake a $2m tourist attraction in the Manjimup/Nannup region.
The Shire’s of Bridgetown-Greenbushes, Manjimup and Nannup considered the Donnelly River Valley Tourist Slide Concept Feasibility Report in November 2007. It was the collective view that the feasibility report be accepted and the project proceeds to the next phase.
Advice was received this week from the Hon Francis Logan MLA, Minister for Energy; Resources; Industry and Enterprise that the offer of State funds towards the project had been withdrawn forthwith.
Manjimup Shire President Wade DeCampo said “It is disappointing that the Minister has made the decision to withdraw funding without any consultation with the three Council’s, particularly as the Councils requested a meeting with the Minister back in November to discuss the report prior to any decision being made.”
The report together with further work was to form the basis of a submission to the Commonwealth Government for the balance of the funds needed for the project to proceed to construction.
“The withdrawal of State Government funding has effectively terminated any likelihood of the Donnelly River Valley Tourist Slide proceeding. It is very disappointing that both Federal and State Governments have now walked away from a key commitment made to compensate local communities for the timber industry restructuring”.
The conditions applied to the funding for this particular project were problematic from the outset. The State distancing itself from responsibility to deliver a forest tourism experience on State controlled land meant that the project was designed to fail.
“If the project is to be terminated then the Minister should do the decent thing and at the very least provide those local communities with the equivalent funding promised under the Protecting the Old Growth Forests Policy for the icon so that funding can be applied to local tourism attractions.”
Authorised jointly by:
Brian Moore, Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes - Contact on 9761 1555 for comment
Wade De Campo, Shire President, Shire of Manjimup - Contact Wade De Campo on 0427 094 081 for comment
Barbara Dunnet, Shire President, Nannup - Contact Barbara on 9756 1018 for comment