$500, 000 WEST COAST INFRASTRUCTURE AND SKILLS PACKAGE – STAGE 1

Strahan Foreshore Walks & Local Cemeteries Commitment

The Tasmanian Greens announced a $500, 000 funding commitment for foreshore walks around Strahan, and a West Coast Cemeteries Restoration program, as Stage One of their West Coast Infrastructure and Skills package.

Greens Leader Nick McKim MP, who announced the commitment while visiting the West Coast with Greens’ Braddon candidate Paul O’Halloran, said that the funding would help retain skilled workers on the West Coast, and fill the gap in state government assistance under Labor.

“Strahan is a beautiful village, but people are telling us that locals and tourists alike would benefit from better walkways around the coastal area.”

“Labor’s slashing of the Parks and Wildlife Service budget has meant that many tracks around Strahan need urgent work, which will be funded by the Greens.”

“The communities of Rosebery, Zeehan, Queenstown and Strahan all have significant historic cemeteries, but many of them are in a state of disrepair.”

“There is rich West Coast heritage in many of these pioneer cemeteries, and the Greens will help to restore them to their former glory.”

$200, 000 – West Coast Cemeteries Restoration Program

· Restore and maintain historic and current cemeteries within the towns of Rosebery, Zeehan, Queenstown and Strahan

· Employ 2-3 full-time workers for up to six months

· Provide a skills and training component

· Provide a vehicle, tools and equipment

$300 000 – Strahan Foreshore Walks

· Development of new sections of walking tracks

· Maintenance and upgrades of existing tracks

· Provide signage and interpretation materials

Mr McKim also said that the Cemeteries Restoration package was one of the West Coast stimulus asks put forward by local Mayor Darryl Gerrity, but which has been ignored by the Bartlett government.
Nick McKim MP Greens Leader