A new $6.5m Outdoor Tourism Hub is poised to seize on the best of downhill mountain biking, barramundi fishing, and rainforest trails.
Michael Harris has been given the green light to build a two-storey, 12 room accommodation and tour centre at 18 Drew St in Finch Hatton in the Pioneer Valley.
He says the location, about an hour’s drive west of Mackay, is a “rare” tourism gem that is not yet fully uncovered.
Mr Harris, who has lived in the region since 2015, says the hub will be a “world-class tourism facility” that will attract a new visitor demographic “befitting of the location”, a location soon to boast the $27m Pioneer Valley Mountain Bike Trails.
The hub is expected to lure 3200 visitors and rake in $2.9m in revenue each year, supporting up to 23 operational jobs for tour guides and hospitality workers.
Pioneer Valley Outdoor Tourism Hub plans show outdoor areas, activity spaces and staff accommodation. Photo: Contributed
Principal architect Barry Lee said guides would run tours including mountain biking and hiking as well as fishing in nearby Kinchant, Teemburra, Eungella, and Proserpine Dams – all of which are famous for well-stocked barramundi.
A keen angler himself, Mr Lee said he had caught a metre-long barramundi at Proserpine Dam.
He said he was “absolutely convinced” the hub would appeal to fellow fishing fans as well as those keen on adventure, having himself travelled with mates to New Zealand, Canada and the US.
Mr Lee said they expected to begin construction within months depending on the availability of materials.
A map shows the Pioneer Valley Outdoor Tourism Hub in the centre of some of Mackay region‘s best natural attractions. Photo: Contributed
He added the building was specially designed to accommodate tourists living with disabilities, ahead of the 2032 Paralympic Games.
Also investing in the upcoming bike trails is Corry Cycles owner Evan Corry who has snapped up the old hardware store in Finch Hatton as a bike rental store.
“The growth in mountain biking is significant,” Mr Corry said.
“You’ve only got to look at places like Blue Derby in Tasmania (where) mountain biking is a destination and I definitely think Mackay is going to be on that level.”
Corry Cycles owner Evan Corry, Mackay Tourism CEO Al Grundy, Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe, developer Michael Harris, architect Barry Lee, Mackay MP Julieanne Gilbert, and landscape architect Thomas Schubel at the future site of Pioneer Valley Outdoor Tourist Hub in Finch Hatton. Photo: Zoe Devenport
Pioneer Valley Outdoor Tourism Hub is one of six projects that will share in $9.2m from the state government’s Activate Ecotourism Infrastructure initiative.
Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe, who visited the greenfields site alongside Mackay MP Julieanne Gilbert, said the hub would receive $2m in funding.
Mr Hinchcliffe said he congratulated Mr Harris on the “wonderful” project that would give tourists access to a “great variety of natural experiences”.
Mackay Isaac Tourism CEO Al Grundy similarly congratulated Mr Harris, saying the project was a “game changer”.
Corry Cycles owner Evan Corry said they had already purchased the old hardware store in Finch Hatton to service tourists. Photo: Zoe Devenport
“As we move to being one of Australia’s iconic tourism destinations, I know we won’t only see domestic visitors and our proud locals … I know we’ll be attracting visitors from all over the world,” Mr Grundy said.
“And that’s what excites me.
“We will put Finch Hatton and the Pioneer Valley on the map.”