GOR looks overseas: Projects to chase cash

By Cherie Donnellan
FEDERAL Government is promoting three proposed tourism developments on the Great Ocean Road to foreign investors, according to Tourism Minister Martin Ferguson.
Mr Ferguson said the accommodation facilities were included in a new federal strategy to attract overseas investment in Australian tourism.
The ocean road projects included a proposed 160-room hotel with a 500-seat convention centre at Lorne Golf Club.
The other two “investment-ready” projects were a redevelopment of Apollo Bay’s Seafarers Resort and construction of another hotel with 75 bedrooms at Moonlight Head.
They were included in a Tourism Australia and Austrade guide of 80 projects for international investors.
Mr Ferguson said the initiative would attract billions of dollars to Australia’s tourism industry.
The money would help to “rejuvenate accommodation in regional areas”, he said.
Victorian Tourism Minister Louise Asher “welcomed” the initiative, on which Tourism Victoria “worked closely” with its federal counterpart.
“We wanted to ensure our state’s views were canvassed,” Ms Asher said
Tourism was worth $15.2 billion to Victoria a year, she said, with the Great Ocean Road recognised as a “premier tourist destination.”
“Tourism investment proposals along the Great Ocean Road need to be considered in light of a number of factors including environmental factors but significant private capital is needed for an investment of this size and this new Australian Tourism Investment Guide is designed to attract that investment.
“State Government will continue to work with the local tourism bodies and councils to ensure that tourism needs are met.”