New plank walking trail in Germein Reserve, near Port MacDonnell ‘ready for visitors’
A new plank walk in one of SA’s most picturesque nature reserve is ready for visitors.
Mount Gambier
Don't miss out on the headlines from Mount Gambier. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A new walking trail in a picturesque nature reserve in the state’s South-East featuring a plank walk to ensure year-round accessibility is ready for visitors.
The new plank walk is part of a new walking trail in the Germein Reserve, located just outside Port MacDonnell, which links two established loop walks – the Wilderness Loop and Dingley Dell Loop – allowing visitors to walk from Dingley Dell corner right through to the town of Port MacDonnell and back.
It is built across a picturesque water course prone to flooding, meaning now the track can be accessible for walkers and maintenance workers all year round.
The new track was constructed by members of the Port MacDonnell Landcare Group (PMLG) using materials donated by OneFortyOne through the PINE Community Grants Program.
PMLG president Peter Feast said: “It was very good of OneFortyOne to donate (the materials) to our community.”
He said the project took about five hours across three days for PMLG members to complete.
“We did the slashing of the track on one day, preparation of the posts another day, then five of us came along and laid the boards out and fixed them to it.”
“I was impressed that there were four out of five people over 70 that actually laid the boards!”
PMLG member Ian Black said the newly installed plank walk is made out of sustainable and low-maintenance materials that will help the track “last a very long time”.
“We’re looking at a 50-year life span,” Mr Black said. “We’re very grateful to OneFortyOne for giving us the grant.”
Mr Feast added because the walk had been installed prior to the upcoming wet season, it would be easier for further work to be carried out later.
“It means we can now complete this link path, and we can do the rest any time, even when it’s wet in the winter time because we can access it across the water course,” Mr Feast said.
He said in the past the group had created a path through the water course using stepping stones “but that had a few issues”.
“This is now more accessible to people, even if you’re on a walking stick you can still enjoy the track.”
Rejected: Vital cancer treatment clinic scrapped
Hopes for a radiation treatment centre in SA’s second largest city have been smashed after a long-awaited feasibility study found a critical problem with the idea.
Jobs as massive $120m timber recycling mill green-lit
Construction on a $120m timber recycling mill – one of Australia’s largest – will go ahead after a new company came to an agreement with the local council.