Fruit Pickers' Share in Tourism Funding

22 February 2008

Seven tourism projects will share almost $1 million in funding thanks to the State Government’s $16 million Tourism Promotion Plan (TPP).

The Minister for Economic Development and Tourism, Paula Wriedt, said the allocation of money through the Product and Experience Development grant program is one of several TPP opportunities designed to help place the Tasmanian tourism industry in the strongest possible position for the future.

“These particular grants have provided tourism operators, associations and allied bodies with a special opportunity to develop new or improved experiences that encourage visitors to explore our regional areas,” Ms Wriedt said.

“Seven projects were chosen for their ability to improve visitation to their region, strengthen our tourism brand, and provide further long-term benefits for their local tourism industry and community,” she said.

At Hartzview Vineyard in the State’s south, a grant of $80,000 has been allocated to Anthea and Rob Patterson to restore seven fruit pickers’ huts dating from 1934 and 1943.

Known as the fruit pickers’ village, the recent listing of the huts on the Tasmanian Heritage Register protects an important part of the Tasmanian small berry industry. The property, which has primarily produced small fruits in the early 1900s, now grows pinot noir grapes and produces fruit ports and liqueurs.

Other projects to be funded include:

• $185,000 for the establishment of a cooking school at Lachlan;
• $106,000 for the development of floating pontoon at Triabunna wharf;
• $175,000 for the creation of UnZ00 - a special Tasmanian Devil experience at the Tasmanian Devil Conservation Park at Taranna;
• $56,000 for the development of interpretation for a mining heritage trail to complement the Tin Dragon Trail Cottages
• $150,000 for the expansion of facilities and an information centre at The Cherry Shed near Latrobe: and
• $167,000 for a new multi-purpose interpretation centre at Lavender House at Rowella.

Four of the successful projects are based in the State’s south, two in the north and one in the north west, and together they will share in just under one million dollars.

In the previous round released in March 2007, four north west projects, two southern projects, and one northern project shared in $1.2 million.

The Tourism Promotion Plan was established in 2006 to further promote Tasmanian tourism following the sale of the Spirit of Tasmania III. Of the seven programs detailed in the Plan, the Regional Product and Experience Development Program provided one of the primary opportunities for industry operators and associations to apply for funding.