Council has been awarded $256,000 from the Ministry of Tourisms regional mid-sized facilities grant in an announcement made today.

The grant funding, along with an investment of $120,000 from Council will be put towards improving public toilet facilities on the East Coast.

Upgrades will be made to toilets at Waipiro Bay, Hick’s Bay and the East Cape Lighthouse and a brand new toilet facility will be built in Anaura Bay.

Mayor Meng Foon says Council is pleased with the news, this investment will assist us to improve the service and hospitality to our visitors.

ENDS

Attachment: Minister of Tourism media statement
Hon Paula Bennett
Minister of Tourism

8 June 2017

Media Statement

New tourism facilities for Gisborne

Gisborne will receive $256,000 in government funding for a new tourism infrastructure project, Tourism Minister Paula Bennett announced today.

Gisborne District Council’s proposed new toilets at four sites around East Cape will be co-funded through the Regional Mid-sized Tourism Facilities Grant Fund. The facilities will be built at Hicks Bay, Waipiro Bay, East Cape Lighthouse and Anaura Bay.

“Visitor spending in Gisborne is up four per cent to an estimated $135 million for the year to April and these new facilities will help the region respond to and benefit from growth in the local tourism sector,” Mrs Bennett says.

“While tourism is hugely valuable to the economy, it’s important locals continue to support the sector and are able to enjoy their own spaces – quality infrastructure helps with that.”

This is the second and final round of the Regional Mid-sized Tourism Facilities Grant Fund, which was announced at Budget 2016 to provide co-funding for infrastructure used by visitors and locals, such as carparks, toilets, rubbish disposal and minor water management projects.

“The fund will be subsumed by the new Tourism Infrastructure Fund of $100 million over four years, which will support local communities facing pressure from tourism growth and in need of assistance – areas with high visitor numbers but small ratepayer bases, for example,” Mrs Bennett says.

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