Council Moves On Lake Proserpine Masterplan

Whitsunday Regional Council are exploring extra funding opportunities after receiving the Lake
Proserpine Masterplan at a meeting late last year.
Acting Mayor John Collins said Council had developed a clear vision for establishing and
improving recreational and tourist facilities at Lake Proserpine.
“The masterplan was developed after a site audit and field investigations and workshops between
Council, Sunwater and key stakeholders.
“This Lake Proserpine Master Plan is an exciting step toward making Proserpine an even stronger
regional town within the Whitsunday Region.
“We are just waiting for the final sign-off from Sunwater who have agreed in principle to a 30-year
wet and dry lease on Lake Proserpine,” he said.
“Council has previously received $1million funding from the Tourism Recovery Fund following the
impacts to the region from STC Debbie for this project, which was jointly funded by the State and
Federal Government.
“Our Economic Development team have since leveraged that $1million and Council have allocated
$500,000 and used it to apply for additional matching funding of $1.5million through the Building
our Regions Program.
“Council are expecting an outcome to this application by late January / early February,” Cr Collins
said.
“Every extra dollar we can attract from external sources allows us to be able to do more of the
staged Masterplan so any time Council can turn $500,000 into $3 million is a good outcome.
“Our ultimate aim is to make Lake Proserpine a tourism hotspot attracting additional drive tourism
to our land based attractions in the region with flow-on benefits including local jobs.”
Future recreational uses within the Masterplan include:
1) Camping and low impact accommodation facilities. i.e RV parking, cabins and glamping
2) Upgraded recreational facilities and overflow parking areas
3) Central gathering area / amphitheatre for events
4) Pontoons for enhanced access between the water and landslide areas
5) Enhanced arrival and information facility
6) Upgraded boat ramp and parking areas
7) Rationalised water-based recreation areas

Source: Whitsunday Regional Council.