There will be more equine activity in Serpentine Jarrahdale than ever before, after the Shire secured $120,000 in Regional Economic Development (RED) Grant funding to deliver the next stage of improvements at the Jarrahdale RV Park, supporting its vision of establishing Jarrahdale as one of Australia’s first purpose-designed Horse Trails Towns.
The funding is administered through the Peel Development Commission’s Regional Economic Development Grant program and will complement the nearly $500,000 Australian Government funding budgeted for the Jarrahdale project, delivering new camp amenities like shade structure and solar lighting, and will create a unique tourism offering that caters for recreational vehicle travellers and visitors travelling with horses.
Equine Advisory Group member Caren Earl is enthusiastic about the changes these developments will bring, and the interest they are likely to attract from far and wide.
“The designated camping area will give the equine community a safe place to stay with their horses and enjoy everything Jarrahdale has to offer,” she said.
“We’ve already had interest from people in the South West and other parts of the metropolitan area who want to come to Jarrahdale, camp with their horses and ride the beautiful trails the Shire has created. That presents a real opportunity to attract more visitors to Jarrahdale and provide a boost to local tourism.”
Ms Earl said she feels that there is a general sense of optimism among SJ’s equine community, as a result of the announcement.
“The feedback from our local horse-riders has been extremely positive. People are loving the new trails and, personally, I think they’re amazing because they provide riders with some direction about where they can safely ride and explore the area. My granddaughter Kaylee and I ride these trails every week, and at the moment, the wattles are in full flower, which makes riding through the bush even more magical.
“We hosted an endurance ride on August 8 called the Wattle Ride, and I heard someone describe the experience as being ‘like riding through fairyland.’ I think that really captures what makes riding in Jarrahdale so special.
“We have these beautiful trails and a passionate equine community already here. Providing the infrastructure for riders to safely stay with their horses will help open that experience up to more people and establish Jarrahdale as a destination that horse riders from across the region want to visit.
Ms Earl feels that the changes have successfully addressed the biggest concerns for people wanting to camp with horses, that being safety, particularly in the face of cars or motorbikes passing through camping areas during the night.
“Having a dedicated area with secure horse yards, appropriate facilities, a picnic area and new camp kitchen will provide that extra level of safety and comfort. For horse owners, being able to camp alongside your horse and then head out and explore the trails is a fantastic experience, and this project will make that much easier.”
Shire President Rob Coales said the project represented another significant milestone in positioning Jarrahdale as one of Western Australia’s premier trail destinations.
“These upgrades continue our vision of showcasing Serpentine Jarrahdale as a truly horse-friendly destination,” President Coales said.
“Over the past year we’ve invested in expanding our horse-friendly trail network, and now we’re delivering the supporting visitor infrastructure that allows people to comfortably stay, explore and experience everything Jarrahdale has to offer.”
The project includes construction of a new camp kitchen featuring shaded picnic areas, communal BBQ facilities, food preparation areas, solar lighting and improved accessibility. Importantly, the upgrades will also deliver dedicated horse-friendly infrastructure, including secure horse yards, horse-safe fenced area, mounting blocks, manure collection point, wayfinding signage and trailhead and water access for horses.
President Coales said these additions would make it easier for horse riders to visit Jarrahdale and spend more time enjoying the region.
“Equestrian tourism is a growing market, and we’re creating facilities that simply aren’t available in many other destinations,” he said.
“I would like to thank the Minister for Regional Development, Stephen Dawson, Minister for Peel Jessica Stojkovski, Member for Darling Range Hugh Jones, and the Peel Development Commission for supporting this fantastic project.
The overall project represents an investment of almost $619,556, combining funding from the Australian Government, the Peel Development Commission, and the Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale.
The Regional Economic Development Grants program is delivered by the Peel Development Commission, with support from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.
The $8 million Peel Regional Trails project funding is provided through the Australian Government’s Priority Community Infrastructure Program. The Jarrahdale Horse Friendly RV Park project forms a package of works that will develop and upgrade public areas across the Peel Region, including the Shires of Serpentine-Jarrahdale, Boddington, Murray, Waroona and the City of Mandurah.
