THE local community is invited to provide feedback on additional environmental information provided to the Australian Government to assist with the approval of the $41.4 million Wangetti Trail development.
The Queensland Government has opened another round of community consultation on the Wangetti Trail project. Following months of intensive fieldwork, planning and investigations, the current round of community engagement is open until 11 September 2020 inviting submissions for ideas and comments on the trail.
Feedback received from two rounds of consultation will help to inform project concepts and planning as it progresses into the next stages.
Interested parties can provide feedback until 5pm on 10 September 2021.
The Wangetti Trail will be Queensland’s first purpose built walking and mountain biking track in a national park and one of Australia’s leading adventure based ecotourism experiences, attracting visitors on an international scale.
Development of the Wangetti Trail is recognised as an important aspect of the state’s Covid-19 Economic Recovery Plan for tourism in the Far North.
“The proposed Wangetti Trail project will provide job opportunities for Traditional Owners during construction and once operational, which will be a great investment in our community’s economic recovery from the pandemic”
Member for Cook, Ms Cynthia Lui
In the latest development, the Australian Government has asked for more information for the assessment of the proposed southern trail under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, or EPBC Act.
Information requested by the Australian Government relates to the management and mitigation of potential animal and World Heritage impacts, offsets, rehabilitation and administrative matters.
The EPBC Act allows for a period of public comment on the material through the Tourism Department’s website.
“Subject to Australian Government approval, construction could be underway by the end of the year for the 33-kilometre Wangetti South section of the trail from Palm Cove to Wangetti,” Ms Lui said.
Wangetti Trail is a proposed 94-kilometre long experience, divided into three sections, including a 54 km leg from Wangetti to Mowbray River, and 7 km from the Mowbray River bridge section into to Port Douglas.”
The 33 km southern trail includes a public camping site and a link to Ellis Beach.
A cultural heritage survey has been conducted by Traditional Owner Land and Sea Rangers and a Cultural Heritage Management Agreement with the Palaszczuk Government, and now depends on Federal approvals.
The Dawul Wuru Aboriginal Corporation and Yirrganydji Gurabana Aboriginal Corporation cultural heritage monitors have been involved in the process to deliver job opportunities for Traditional Owners.
“The Wangetti Trail is a great example of the Palaszczuk Government working with Traditional Owners to return jobs to Country and develop new cultural visitor experiences to help tourism in Tropical North Queensland rebuild better.”
Queensland State Tourism Minister, Stirling Hinchliffe
The Palaszczuk Government has committed $33.4 million to the Wangetti Trail project with the Australian Government investing $8 million from the National Tourism Icons Program.
The trail is expected to be operational in 20222-2023, progressively opened to the public.
The Queensland Government is delivering the $41.4 million Wangetti Trail in Tropical North Queensland. The 94km walking and mountain biking trail will stretch from Palm Cove to Port Douglas and will showcase the stunning coastal and hinterland scenery of the World Heritage-listed Wet Tropics and the Great Barrier Reef. To deliver the project $33.4 million of State funds has been allocated to the construction of the trail complemented by the Australian Government’s investment of $8 million into the project from the National Tourism Icons Program.
Myself and a lot of other people are worried about the Erosion the the Wangetti Trail will cause , you only have to look at The downhill bike track from Kuranda to Smithfield and what a Scare it has caused on the environment as well as fires that people Will !! have at night even if there not aloud to, and then get out of hand ,
I really think these issues are important and have to be closely looked at . As well as the track going through World Heritage areas and areas on the beach at Fourmile the go past Oz care nursing home that shouldn’t be allowed as these areas are fragile and shouldn’t be opened up . Ian Locke