A local 4WD club member has successfully led the way for a pilot project on the Newnes Plateau to encourage sustainable use of State-owned lands by four wheel drivers.
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The creation of the project was initiated and driven by Mr Rob Knight of the Lithgow 4WD Club.
The NSW Minister for Industry, Resources and Energy, Anthony Roberts was in Lithgow with Member for Bathurst Paul Toole for the announcement of the $20,000 to the 4WD NSW and ACT Association of which Lithgow 4WD Club is affiliated with and Mr Knight is its western delegate.
Mr Roberts said support for the project aligned with a key NSW Government priority to boost tourism and increase economic growth in regional areas.
“I am delighted the Government is able to support this project which has the potential to also attract both international and domestic tourists who have a passion for environmentally-sustainable 4WD activities,” Mr Roberts said.
“One of our top priorities for regional NSW is to double overnight visitor expenditure by creating more tourism business opportunities in key regional areas like Lithgow by 2020.
“Not only will this project provide economic value to the Lithgow region but it will also contribute to the protection and sustainable use of state and national forests.
Mr Roberts said improved trail signage will increase the enjoyment of tourists. He has visited the Newnes Plateau a couple of times and experienced some difficulties getting around the area himself.
“Lithgow is already a popular tourist destination and this project can help to leverage further economic development in the town and surrounding regions.”
Bathurst MP Paul Toole said the financial assistance would enable the 4WD association to create trails designed to encourage sustainable use of State owned lands by four wheel drivers.
“The project will have a number of benefits including boosting tourism revenue and encouraging eco-tourism that will replace forest-based industries. It will also reduce the environmental impacts on State Forests and National Parks from ad-hoc 4WD activities.
“The Newnes Plateau of the Lithgow area is already popular with 4WD enthusiasts and the Government’s support for this project will enable the Association to identify, grade and classify dedicated 4WD trails with appropriate signage and also to print maps.”
The 4WD NSW and ACT Association’s Newnes project is the first in what it hopes to be a series of 4WD areas that run from border to border to help deter the sort of incidents like the rollover that happened on the weekend near Glowworm Tunnel Road in the Newnes State Forest.
4WD NSW and ACT Association president Craig Thomas said it wanted to get more responsible drivers out on trails with an focus on making it easier and safer for users to enjoy what the region has to offer.
“We are encouraging families and people who will look after the area,” he said.
He highlighted that Lithgow was a hub for weekend four-wheel-drivers with thousands, if not tens of thousands of dollars, spent on fuel, food, brakedowns and accommodation, especially if it rains, in the area over Saturdays and Sundays.