Rick Wilson (O'Connor, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to update the House on an exciting project that our government's Building Better Regions Fund is delivering in my electorate of O'Connor. The Great Southern Centre for Outdoor Recreation Excellence, or GSCORE, has received federal funding to help it deliver a trail master plan and school camp activities in the Great Southern region of Western Australia. GSCORE received more than $129,000 from the Building Better Regions Fund to help develop infrastructure for the Great Southern Regional Trails Master Plan and $20,000 for Great Southern Learning Adventures. The trails master plan will identify a coherent and clearly outlined program of trail infrastructure development across the Great Southern region over the next 10 years. GSCORE's goal is to develop and maintain a network of trails with outdoor recreational elements to promote a healthy community and make the Great Southern a world-class trails destination. GSCORE's master plan will focus on a range of interconnected active leisure trails suited to different user groups, including land-based, aquatic, heritage and cultural trails. This trails master plan will complement other projects being pursued to boost tourism, cultural awareness and active leisure activities in the Great Southern.

The City of Albany is also in the process of establishing a network of mountain-bike trails in and around the city, with a view to becoming one of Australia's primary mountain-biking destinations, a project which has my full support. I commend both GSCORE and the City of Albany on these projects and their endeavours to enhance our regional community and to help tourists and locals more fully appreciate the natural beauty of the Great Southern.