CRAIG INGRAM MP - MEMBER FOR GIPPSLAND EAST
Issued: Saturday 26 January 2008
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MEDIA
RELEASE FROM CRAIG INGRAM MP - MEMBER FOR GIPPSLAND EAST Issued: Saturday 26 January 2008 |
Ingram slams negative tourism publicity
The Independent Member for Gippsland East, Craig Ingram, has described unnecessary publicity on the current algal bloom as “the last thing Gippsland tourism operators needed in the middle of the peak tourism season”.
Mr Ingram said that there were plenty of activities and places both on and off the water in East Gippsland which were not affected by the algae.
“It’s important to highlight that even the lakes are not fully affected by the current bloom and the bloom has not affected most activities on the Gippsland Lakes, but this message is hard to get through,” Mr Ingram said.
“East Gippsland has suffered through a number of negative impacts on the tourism industry –fires, floods and now an algal bloom.
“I have deliberately not commented on the bloom through the state media as negative messages are difficult to limit, yet others have spread the word on statewide radio and print media that Gippsland is not a positive place to visit at present.
“It’s disappointing that East Gippsland has again had negative publicity during a time when tourism operators need the income most. Of particular concern is that the bulk of the publicity seems to have been generated by a member of a local tourism group who is rumoured to have federal political ambitions and is intent on using any means to raise his profile.
“The Gippsland Lakes is one of our regions most important tourism assets, which is the reason that I was instrumental in the establishment of the Gippsland Lakes Taskforce to coordinate the restoration of the Gippsland Lakes and negotiated ongoing funding for the recovery of the lakes system.
“It is also why it is essential that the lakes are protected from those calling for new consumptive water use and damming the rivers that flow into the lakes system.
“The current bloom is a timely reminder to all of the impact of negative publicity on the lakes’ water quality and why we all must fight to ensure that the lakes are protected and the health of the lakes continues to be improved,” Mr Ingram concluded.
