Australia's North West Tourism, an arm of Tourism WA, has requested the State Government release a government site for a new 5 star Resort at Broome.
The Chairman of Australia's North West Tourism, Ian Laurance, said he would be writing to Tourism WA Chief Executive Richard Muirhead to suggest that a suitable site be made available for this purpose.
He said that Australia's North West directors had made decision at their recent Board Meeting in Tom Price.
One suggestion discussed by Australia's North West Board members was for the State Government to build a new Education Department Camp School on an alternative site, thereby making the existing Camp School site available for a new Resort. In this way, as the Government would control the site the Government could then be in control of what was developed on the site.
Mr. Laurance said that a perfect example, and a successful one, of this type of approach had just been carried out at Port Hedland. In Port Hedland, the Government had committed to a new Hospital at South Hedland and had made the Old Hospital site, on the waterfront, available for private development. As a result, the ASX listed Mirvac Group, had recently announced that it would build a $100 million hotel on the site.
Mr. Laurance said that a similar approach in Broome would be a win-win for the community and the Tourism Industry.
The existing Camp School had been built many years ago, and a new, modern Camp School, on an alternative site would be an excellent outcome. At the same time, the site could be utilised for a higher and better use.
" Whilst there have been some fantastic new accommodation developments in Broome in recent times, there is a need for a new 5 Star, Full Service, Resort Hotel." Mr. Laurance said that the demand for this type of accommodation had been made quite clear, from surveys conducted amongst potential international visitors interested in the proposed Singapore to Broome direct flights.
