THE regional tourism app will go ahead despite the City of Busselton council’s decision to not provide funding, according to Augusta Margaret River Tourism Association chief executive Pip Close.
The City of Busselton councillors voted against putting $15,000 towards the project at its March 26 meeting.
“The project is a big one and this will be a world class app; there are not many regions across Australia which have apps of this quality,” Ms Close said.
“So it is baffling that the app is not being supported for a relatively small amount of project funding.”
Geographe Bay Tourism Association acting chief executive Sharna Kearney also expressed her disappointment with the council decision.
“The $15,000 contribution to this project was a small part of the overall development and project management costs and represented good value for money,” she said.
The app is estimated to cost $168,000 with the federal government providing half the funding through a TQUAL grant.
The other half has to be matched by the association which led it to request funding from the Augusta Margaret River Shire, City of Busselton, Geographe Bay Tourism Association and the local chambers of commerce and industries.
Ms Kearney said Geographe Bay Tourism Association would be offering staff and content development support instead of a financial contribution.
Augusta Margaret River Shire and the association will be the only organisations to financially match the funding.
“Naturally, we are disappointed. It is a shame given it is a project that will enhance the visitor experience,” Ms Close said.
“Consumers do not recognise Shire boundaries; our aim is to promote the entire region and we believe this tool will be very valuable to all travellers in future.”
The app will aim to highlight the tourist attractions in the region as well as being shown in English and Mandarin.
City of Busselton officers recommended the council approve the requested funding but Councillor Rob Bennett put an alternative motion ahead which was successful.
Cr Bennett said there was no point in funding a project which would benefit businesses if the businesses were not going to support it financially themselves.
Ms Close said the Busselton region would still be represented in the app, regardless of funding support.
The project’s first milestone will be on July 1 for the acquittal process and Ms Close said the app was on track to be launched later in 2014.
