Dwellingup is on track to become one of Western Australia's must-visit trails towns and adventure destinations, where locals enjoy a great quality of life and visitors feel a compelling sense of connection to the place, to motivate their return.
It is widely recognised that there has been a global increase in the development, use and demand for trails, with consumers increasingly seeking high-quality and unique experiences that facilitate their enjoyment and appreciation of an area or trails activities through supporting services, visitor products, interpretation and information.
Dwellingup is ideally situated to prosper in the growth and economic benefits of trails and the town's development is being guided by insight into other great trails towns including those of New Zealand, Europe and Tasmania, especially regarding how to attract and exceed the expectations of users.
The town's steady stream of visitors seeking to reconnect with nature and capitalise on the plethora of trails on offer, is being bolstered through concerted efforts including an increase in the number of trails related events.
Through the successful completion of the Dwellingup Trails and Visitor Centre, Adventure Trails and Gap projects, which will be undertaken over the next three to four years subject to funding, Dwellingup will qualify as a regionally significant trails town, a first for Peel and a significant milestone in the Peel Regional Trails Strategy 2019.
Being only an hour from Perth, the Peel region has an opportunity to significantly increase tourism market share through developing and promoting the wide range of trails and adventure activities on offer.
This range is a fundamental means of exploring and enjoying the Region's unique places through a multitude of experiences.
The Strategy has been developed for and on behalf of the region's five local governments including Murray, Mandurah, Serpentine-Jarrahdale, Waroona and Boddington.
Its purpose is to guide future strategic investment in trails recreation, tourism and event development across the region, to ensure Peel becomes an economically, environmentally and socially sustainable trails destination.
Aligned with the Western Australian Strategic Trails Blueprint 2017- 2021, this Strategy considers bushwalk, urban walk, mountain bike, cycling, equestrian, 4WD, 2WD and trailbike trails.
The Peel Regional Trails Strategy supports the key objectives of the Blueprint to develop a statewide network of sustainable trails, facilities and associated infrastructure.
This will help to raise the recreational and tourism profile of Western Australian trails and to develop a diverse revenue stream to ensure economic sustainability.
The Peel region will offer visitors and locals accessible and immersive trail experiences, supported by a suite of visitor services offered within trail towns, trail centres and trail networks.
Dwellingup is a key component in Western Australia's trails development.
The Shire of Murray, together with Dwellingup's local business and tourism sectors and community groups, is working to ensure the town's successful transformation.
For further information on the future of Dwellingup, visit www.murray.wa.gov.au/projects.
David Bolt is the Shire of Murray president.
