THE tourism potential of a Riverland environmental site was showcased recently to two local politicians.
Barker MP Tony Pasin and Riverland-based Legislative Council Member Nicola Centofanti last month toured Calperum Station.
Ms Centofanti said programs being run at the station were educating local and interstate students about Riverland environments.
“It’s been fantastic to see what they’ve developed here at Calperum Station,” Ms Centofanti said.
“They’re putting a strong focus on education, and they’re getting school groups in and teaching them about sustainability and ecology.
“It’s a fantastic thing for tourism in our area, and education for local schools.”
Calperum Station associate director of business development and education, Julie Robertson, said feedback from the pair would help form future tourism strategies for the station.
“It was great to introduce Tony and Nicola to Calperum Station and our team of rangers and ecologists,” Ms Robertson said.
“Through the Calperum Connect program we will continue to develop and deliver educational and eco-tourism experiences at Calperum, encouraging more visitors and supporting the great work already being done by tourism operators in the region.
“Tony and Nicola were very encouraging about our vision for Calperum, and shared some helpful insights and suggestions about our future development.”
Ms Centofanti said environmental sites such as Calperum would be important to the Riverland’s future economic development.
“I really think it is the way of the future,” she said.
“Particularly in the Riverland, we’ve got an amazing River Murray system and while irrigation and horticulture are a massive industry for us, we do need to look at diversifying as well.
“Certainly, ecological tourism is really going to be an exciting opportunity going forward.
“They are looking at the big picture for the future, and that’s exciting to see.”