p style=”text-align: justify”>A new home for the crocodiles at the Ballarat Wildlife and Reptile Park is taking shape with the support of $110,000 through the Federal Government TQUAL tourism grants.
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A new home for the crocodiles at the Ballarat Wildlife and Reptile Park is taking shape with the support of $110,000 through the Federal Government TQUAL tourism grants.
The Crocodile Billabong Experience and Conservation Centre at the Park will house large freshwater crocodiles and provide for education and information sessions.
“This project will provide an educational resource in addition to creating a new tourism opportunity for the region,” Ms King said.
“It will also allow the Ballarat Wildlife and Reptile Park to refresh and renew its product, making it even more likely to bring visitors back time and again.”
Funding under TQUAL grants attracts dollar for dollar investment from the tourism operators.
“By providing matching funding to help local tourism businesses grow and renew their businesses, the Australian Government is supporting the $34 billion industry which employs almost a million Australians directly and indirectly,” Ms King said.
“What I am particularly pleased about is that this funding is an investment in a quality tourism product which will enhance the overall attraction of Ballarat and region as a place to visit and stay for at least several days.
“The challenge for regional tourism destinations is in attracting increasingly time poor visitors out of the gateway cities.
“These grants help better position those businesses and organisations which are looking to expand, modify or diversify their product or service to be even more appealing for city dwellers and international visitors.
“As a part of the National Long Term Tourism Strategy, the TQUAL Grants help address the lack of investment in tourism which is more pronounced in regional Australia.
“TQUAL Grants create greater incentive for tourism operators to invest and that’s especially important in regional economies.
“New investment in just one tourism project can generate flow-on benefits to thousands of small businesses, whether they’re directly involved in the industry or part of the wider business community.”