Photo caption: Shadow Minister for Trade and Tourism Kevin Hogan, Nationals candidate for Parkes Jamie Chaffey and Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton pictured at Taronga Western Plains Zoo. Photo credit: Taronga Western Plains Zoo
Tourism in the Parkes electorate is in the spotlight this week with Shadow Minister for Trade and Tourism Kevin Hogan in Dubbo to see just why the Central West region is among the top tourist destinations in New South Wales.
Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton said it’s fantastic to have the Shadow Minister return to the electorate to tour some of Dubbo’s major tourist attractions, along with Nationals candidate for Parkes Jamie Chaffey.
“While the Parkes electorate is known for its agricultural dominance, we also have a growing tourism industry which has been experiencing a boom ever since the COVID-19 pandemic,” Mr Coulton said.
“If there was anything positive to come from the pandemic, it was to highlight just how great our own backyard is with more Australians discovering the hidden gems of regional New South Wales.
“In my electorate, Dubbo is the biggest tourist destination with tourism a major contributor to the local economy. Visitors spend approximately $380 million in the Dubbo Region every year which provides a huge economic boost to our local businesses.
“The jewel in Dubbo’s tourism crown is of course Taronga Western Plains Zoo. It’s been a while since I’ve visited the zoo myself, so it was great to get a tour today and experience some of the highlights, including the giraffe feeding, the wildlife hospital and Platypus HQ Rescue.
“Although the zoo is the main drawcard for families and visitors to Dubbo, there are plenty of other great attractions to keep people in town for longer and I’m pleased Kevin and Jamie got a taste of what else is on offer.
“We also visited the Western Plains Cultural Centre where Dubbo’s history and world class exhibitions are showcased and the Royal Flying Doctor Visitor Experience which is an impressive interactive exploration of the RFDS.”
Mr Hogan, Mr Coulton and Mr Chaffey also had the opportunity to catch up with some of the region’s biggest exporters during the two-day visit, which includes a tour of the Toongi Rare Earth Mine and Ahrens Silos in Gilgandra and meetings with Dubbo Regional Council and Gilgandra Shire Council.
“The visit to Toongi Rare Earth Mine comes off the back of Australian Strategic Minerals this week receiving a $5 million Federal Government grant to fund up to 50 per cent of a study to find more efficient ways of refining rare earths at its mine and processing plant,” Mr Coulton said.
“Rare earths are critical to a wide range of modern technologies and future industries, including electric vehicles, wind turbines, robotics, modern healthcare and electronics. They’re also very important for the defence industry, so this project is nationally and globally significant.”
Shadow Minister for Trade and Tourism Kevin Hogan said it was great to see the tourism industry booming in Dubbo which caters for a range of diverse events and experiences.
“The Taronga Western Plains Zoo is of course a huge drawcard for tourists both domestically and internationally – but that is just the start of it here. The Royal Flying Doctor Service Visitor Experience is a fantastic showcase of the long history of our heroic doctors, nurses, pilots and outback communities involved,” Mr Hogan said.
“And of course the broad range of agricultural powerhouses out here never cease to amaze me. The Toongi Rare Earth Mine and Ahrens Silos in Gilgandra were great to see firsthand and reiterated the fact that regional Australia is the lifeblood of our country. Regional Australia keeps the country running.”
The Nationals candidate for Parkes Jamie Chaffey said it’s been a good opportunity to meet more local people from Dubbo and Gilgandra and increase his knowledge and understanding of what’s most important to the success of these important local government areas in the Parkes electorate.
“Tourism is so important for regional communities where many small businesses rely on dollars from visitors,” Mr Chaffey said.
“Dubbo is a key tourist centre in the Parkes electorate and I was pleased to be able to gain further insight into some of the great local attractions.
“It was also great to meet with some of the exporters in this area to discuss their concerns ahead of the next election.”