Premier Alan Carpenter today announced more than $2million to get the iconic Hotham Valley Tourist Rail back on track after parts of it were destroyed in the Dwellingup bushfires earlier this year. The $2.1million will see the Hotham Valley Tourist Rail's popular train services from Pinjarra to Dwellingup up and running again for the peak season in May 2008.
(Media-Newswire.com) - Premier Alan Carpenter today announced more than $2million to get the iconic Hotham Valley Tourist Rail back on track after parts of it were destroyed in the Dwellingup bushfires earlier this year.
The $2.1million will see the Hotham Valley Tourist Rail’s popular train services from Pinjarra to Dwellingup up and running again for the peak season in May 2008.
Services from Dwellingup are already operating and giving visitors a unique view of forest from the comfort of a tourist train.
“Tourism is one of WA’s major industries, and the tourist train from Pinjarra to Dwellingup is one of the state’s iconic attractions” the Premier said.
Last year the burgeoning Peel Region attracted more than half a million overnight visitors who contributed around $174million to the local economy. The operations of Hotham Valley Tourist Rail alone contribute around $1.6million and create 19 regional jobs.
Earlier this year the Peel Development Commission allocated $264,000 to reconstruct the rail line and other infrastructure from Dwellingup to Etmilyn just to the east, which had been destroyed in bushfires in late 2006.
“The State Government has already provided around $3.5million for infrastructure for the Peel Region Tourist Rail, including $583,000 for the construction of the Pinjarra Station that will open this year,” the Premier said.
"The State Government is using our strong economy to deliver better services to our regions.
"We are making decisions for the future to ensure places like Peel can continue to thrive.
“With this new $2.1million, we expect to see the full service operating again from Pinjarra to Etmilyn next year, attracting even more visitors to this great part of WA”.
Premier's office - 9222 9475
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