If We Build It, Will They Come?

Abstract of paper to be presented by Graham Morris of Sanmor Consulting Group at the Ecotourism Australia Conference 2005 in Hobart Tasmania

In January 2003 devastating bushfires swept across the Australian Alps and into Canberra and the ACT. Canberra lost four lives and over 500 hundred houses plus almost seventy-five percent of the non-urban land of was burnt. Tourism icons such as the Mount Stromlo Observatory and Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve were destroyed; the Cotter area, popular for picnics and recreational activities was burnt out, and pine forests, to the west of the city, which had provided numerous recreational venues, were totally lost.

A problem facing the ACT Government was what tourism infrastructure should be restored to its original state, what should be restored but in a modified form, what would be best forgotten, and what opportunities were there for new, innovative tourism facilities and activities?

Budget was clearly an issue for a Territory with little more than 300,000 population (bushfire insurance was only limited). Another significant issue was what would benefit the community directly - through provision of recreational and other opportunities - and what would provide other benefits through the provision of special attractions for tourists?

And, finally, would the community and tourists use the facilities and in what numbers, would they come?

This paper looks at these issues and examines two of the significant tourism infrastructure projects currently being undertaken by the ACT Government:

- the development of a nature discovery centre within Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, and
- the development of an international arboretum and gardens at Dairy Farmer Hill in Canberra.

These will be presented as a case study to explore the role of Governments in the provision of tourism infrastructure and seek to answer If We Build It, Will They Come?