A long-awaited $12.5 million funding package to revitalise the old Dismal Swamp site in Tasmania’s far north-west has been given the tick of approval by the federal government.
The funds were first promised two years ago and are expected to transform the former tourist attraction into a new adventure hub that will draw thousands of new visitors to the area.
The once-popular Dismal Swamp opened in 2004 with a 110-metre slide, but has since fallen into disrepair.
Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said work to restore the “neglected” attraction 30 minutes from Smithton is part of a wider initiative to kickstart the growth of tourism in the region.
“This project is an investment in the tourism future of the far north-west of Tasmania, complementing the area’s amazing natural environment with an exciting new visitor experience,” she said.
“The new hub will bring a fresh vision and new ideas to the area and is projected to attract an additional 10,000 visitors to the region each year.”
Premier Jeremy Rockliff said the project will capitalise on the “booming caravan and camping sector” and the pending arrival of two new Spirit of Tasmania passenger vessels.
“We see this site becoming a world-class visitor hub for cultural and nature-based experiences within the broader far north-west region, which is expected to attract an additional $9 million in annual visitor expenditure across the state,” he said.
“We expect the operation to feature a range of accommodation options and immersive nature-based experiences.”
The park has been left abandoned since 2019.
According to previous reports, the slide will be removed and replaced with accommodation, obstacle course, educational cinema, eateries and Aboriginal interpretation tours.
