The McGowan Government has signed $665,000 in new funding agreements with the Shires of Ashburton and Carnarvon to prepare for the Total Solar Eclipse 2023 and support a number of projects that will help leave a legacy for these growing tourist centres.
The Shire of Ashburton will receive a $275,000 grant to help deliver Stage 3 of the Onslow Ocean View Caravan Park.
Stage 3 is expected to more than double the number of caravan and camping sites from 40 to 100.
The Shire of Carnarvon will receive more than $390,000 for eight projects in Carnarvon and Coral Bay.
The projects include an upgrade for the Carnarvon Visitor Centre, new car parking in both towns, and the refurbishment of existing Coral Bay ablutions.
The funding will also be used to install water fill and sewerage disposal service points for caravans and campers, temporary ablution facilities and additional waste management in Coral Bay.
The Ningaloo region, which includes the Shires of Ashburton, Carnarvon and Exmouth, will be one of the best places on Earth to view the 2023 Total Solar Eclipse.
Thousands of international and domestic visitors are expected to travel to Western Australia to witness the sun, moon and Earth align at 11.27 am on 20 April, 2023.
Exmouth will experience a 100 per cent solar eclipse, Onslow and Coral Bay will experience 99 per cent darkness, while Carnarvon will be about 95 per cent.
The Financial Assistance Agreements are part of the State Government's $21.1 million package, which is funding a range of upgrades helping to ensure the region is ready for a significant increase in visitors.
This funding will also include infrastructure spending, which will ensure a successful legacy for the regions beyond the Total Solar Eclipse.
The Government is collaborating with Telstra on a range of telecommunications improvements in the Gascoyne including:
- new mobile base stations in Onslow, Learmonth and Exmouth; and
- the upgrade of existing base stations at Wooramel, Coral Bay, Cape Range and Exmouth Town.
Funding is also available for a new mobile base station at Carnarvon, subject to identification of a suitable location.
Upgrades to the regions' roads include $1.9 million for rest area upgrades on the Minilya-Exmouth Road.
The McGowan Government, including representatives from 13 State Government agencies and one Federal Government agency, has been working in partnership with local communities and the eclipse stakeholder reference group to address a range of logistical challenges to plan and manage the event.
To learn more about the 2023 Total Solar Eclipse, visit: https://ningalooeclipse.com/
As stated by State Development, Jobs and Trade and Tourism Minister Roger Cook:
"The 2023 Total Solar Eclipse is an extraordinary and rare astronomical event, providing a unique tourism opportunity for the Ningaloo region and WA.
"The McGowan Government will continue to work closely with all the shires in the region on preparations for the eclipse.
"We are committed to ensuring this event shows off the very best that WA has to offer, and that it leaves a legacy for the shires and towns.
"Building new car parks, upgrading ablutions and providing additional waste management may not be glamorous projects, but they are essential in making sure the region has the infrastructure it needs to support the expected large number of visitors."
