Your chamber has been listening and is pleased to announce the state government has now heard.
For years the 2023 Total Solar Eclipse (TSE) has been a hot topic in our local community, with conversations and concerns becoming louder and louder over the last 12 months.
On Friday the 11th of March the ECCI hosted the Deputy Premier, Hon. Roger Cook MLA for a detailed discussion at the Exmouth Business Hub. Alongside ECCI Manager, Sarah Booth, and Secretary Jackie Brooks, ECCI President David Gillespie utilised this opportunity to discuss areas of concern.
Subjects discussed included;
- Worker housing and potential short-term solutions to assist prior to more permanent worker housing being built.
- Town Beach Redevelopment and the need to secure additional funding to complete the project.
- Support required to secure funding for new playground equipment at the Exmouth district high school
- 2023 Total Solar Eclipse and the need for additional funding to help showcase our region to the globe during this incredible event.
Today, as we start the clock on the 1-year count down, the ECCI received an official response from Minister Cook’s office with the announcement of an additional $19.3 million budget injection to help support our region in preparing and hosting what is expected to be thousands of tourist embarking on Exmouth to witness the natural phenomenon.
Although final details are still yet to be confirmed, we are excited to see that the global marketing opportunity has been recognised. $5 million has been allocated to the Department of Jobs, Trade, Tourism and Innovation (JTSI) for event management to make arrangements for a major event in the region to help support the success of the TSE for visitors and local businesses, and to highlight WA’s unique potential as a dark sky tourism destination.
To accompany the announcement, an additional
- $470,000 has been set aside to help finalize the Exmouth Town Beach project.
- $2.4 million to upgrade the range and capacity of the telecommunications infrastructure in the Exmouth region
- $5.4 million to increase the capacity of the region’s telecommunications infrastructure;
- $3 million to temporarily boost Exmouth’s telecommunications network during the event;
- $8.2 million in road infrastructure upgrades and traffic management
- $1.1 million to the Department of Biodiversity, Conservations and Attractions for event and waste management costs
The ECCI continues to work alongside the state government to ensure all local community concerns are addressed, long-term infrastructure benefits are met and opportunities are maximized to grow the economic benefit for our local businesses long into the future.
To read the full media release issued by Hon. Roger Cook MLA Minister for Tourism, click here.
LAUNCHED TODAY! Check out the official Ningaloo Eclipse Website, available here.
Book Now
