Boost for Southern tourism projects

OTAGO mayors have welcomed a $691,000 cash injection from the Government to improve tourism infrastructure in the region, hoping it will curb some of the problems of increasing visitor numbers and ensure a ‘‘better experience’’ for tourists and residents alike.

The money is part of $5.2 million awarded nationally in the second and final round of the Government’s Regional and Midsized Tourism Facilities Fund. That fund will now be absorbed into the recently announced Tourism Infrastructure Fund of $100 million over four years.

Central Otago Mayor Tim Cadogan — who earlier this year was one of six southern mayors who asked the Government to introduce a tourist levy to fund solutions to irresponsible camping — said he was particularly thrilled with the funding.

Almost half the Otago money has gone to Central Otago projects, the council receiving $318,000 to install solarpowered compacting rubbish bins at eight sites around Lake Dunstan, Clyde, Alexandra and Roxburgh; upgrade toilet facilities at Weatherall Creek and Champagne Gully, at Lake Dunstan; and build new toilets in the Cromwell town centre.

‘‘[It] is obviously great news. This will allow the council to work to ameliorate the effect of the huge increase in tourist numbers in the district for the benefit of both the visitors and locals alike,’’ Mr Cadogan said.

He did not think the extra infrastructure would open the floodgates to more tourists. The floodgates ‘‘had already been opened’’, and the money would allow the district to ‘‘catch up’’ with some muchneeded infrastructure, he said. The council would also seek additional funding from the new $100 million fund.

The Queenstown Lakes District Council has received $150,000 for new toilets in Makarora and Mayor Jim Boult said the wider funding given for projects elsewhere in the southern region was also good news.

‘‘What that will mean is that visitors to the region will be able to anticipate facilities as they travel through. My hope will be that this will in turn curb some of the unsavoury behaviour and ensure a better experience for the visitors and the local communities alike.’’

Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher said he was ‘‘really pleased’’ to receive funding for toilets and showers in Dunback and toilets and car parking in Duntroon.

‘‘They [Dunback and Duntroon projects] were identified as being a couple of the key ones we definitely need to be working on.’’

The Mackenzie District Council has also received $375,000 for toilet projects, and the Westland District Council has received $1,020,844 for five toilets and parking projects.

Tourism Minister Paula Bennett said the funding would be ‘‘a relief’’ for communities and ‘‘help them respond to the steady stream of visitors they are seeing. Tourism is hugely important to many of our regional economies and infrastructure is essential to harnessing the benefits of growth in the sector. Quality infrastructure and facilities also help to ensure New Zealanders can continue to enjoy their own spaces — whether they are at home or visiting other parts of the country. This is important if the tourism sector is to retain the support of New Zealanders’’.

Sixteen councils received funding throughout the country.