Wildflowers and beyond: Morawa Shire council adopts plans to expand local tourism industry

The Shire of Morawa has adopted a tourism plan to continue the town’s growth as a tourist destination. The plan aims to develop Morawa’s attractions and services, explore new trends and expand the supporting infrastructure needed for more tourists. Morawa has seen a growing number of tourists who come to see nearby wildflowers, and the plan includes calls to develop new and existing tracts to explore the local wilderness. While its wildflowers will still be a key part of Morawa’s tourism industry, the town also hopes to move into other niches. Aboriginal tourism is an area the town is keen to expand into, and the plans call for creating and supporting of Aboriginal tours and trails, helping visitors learn about the area’s Indigenous history and culture. Other areas include astrotourism, with facilities and events for stargazing over Morawa’s clear night sky, and the local quirk of Morawa, the largest collection of windmills in WA. The plan also calls for an expansion to Morawa’s caravan park to accommodate more tourists and improving the town’s marketing to attract more attention. Shire CEO Scott Wildgoose said support from the State Government and private business would be crucial for Morawa’s tourism prospects. “We checked our plans to see if they have synergies with what largest organisations are planning, to take advantage of those initiatives,” he said. “It’s been really great to see the tourists come over and bring an input into the economy in the town, and we hope that as we deliver to this plan we can build on what we have got.”