Tourism Minister Kate Jones has announced construction is complete on O'Reilly's suite of new world class ecotourism attractions and revealed the tourism icon is taking bookings ahead of the next school holidays thanks to strong support from the Palaszczuk Government. This announcement comes roughly a decade after Tourism Minister Kate Jones – then the Environment Minister in the Bligh Government – changed legislation to allow low-impact ecotourism experiences in Queensland national parks. Last year, the Palaszczuk Government committed $1.2 million in vital funding to partner with O'Reilly's to deliver the world class Green Mountain Campground in Lamington National Park. Ms Jones declared the $2.8 million project would be complete in time for the September school holidays. "This project will make the Gold Coast and the Scenic Rim the envy of ecotourism destinations throughout the world," Ms Jones said. "In recent years, we've seen in Tasmania and New Zealand how lucrative the ecotourism market is – that's why we're investing in infrastructure like this to create jobs and pump millions of dollars back into our tourism sector. "It's been such a tough year for the local tourism industry. This world class experience is an absolute gamechanger that will deliver great flow-on benefits for other businesses throughout the southeast. "I've followed this project from its conception right through to its completion. It's a proud moment for me as a politician." The revitalisation of the camping area created 120 construction jobs and will support 10 operational jobs at O'Reilly's. The upgrade includes:
- A new amenities building, communal camp kitchen and hub, with pathways and ramping to enable accessibility for all guests
- Development of 21 recreational vehicle sites and 24 campsites
- Construction of 17 safari tents with ensuite pods and two of them with disabled access
- Creation of a fire pit and gathering area
