Time consuming redevelopment of Alligator Creek visitor site comes under fire

A local has slammed the time consuming redevelopment of a popular NQ tourist destination saying it has created unnecessary damage to the area and facilities.

CONCERNS have been raised about repeatedly-delayed upgrade to the Alligator Creek visitor site, with a local resident claiming that unnecessary damage was being done to the area.

After closing in March last year, the $1.3 million redevelopment of the popular tourist destination to provide a dedicated day-visitor site with increased parking capacity and facilities that allow people of all abilities to access, was expected to be complete by July 2021.

Sixteen months later, the gates to the park remain locked.

Douglas resident Michael, who didn’t wish to publish his last name, has shared imagery on social media to support his belief that the works had made the site worse.

“I was out there last month doing some environmental weed control and went in to have a look and the carpark was all completed, the place was still a little overgrown but looking better,” Michael said.

“I went back out on Saturday morning and they’ve destroyed a lot of stuff that wasn’t broken.

“The carpark was all ripped up completely to the dirt, the perfectly good set of stairs that led to the waterhole has been bulldozed through, they cleared out native trees where they kept the construction equipment, and the toilet block that was near the waterhole is gone.”

He said the site was overgrown, the works on the boardwalk and footpaths weren’t finished, and the cover had been ripped off a barbecue.

“They can’t use the rain as an excuse as nothing out there looks like it has been touched recently. Just a waste of taxpayers money,” he said.

“The fact they have closed the gates for (1.5) years is a joke really.”

A Department of Environment and Science spokesman said the redevelopment was expected to be completed by late August, weather permitting.

“Work has been delayed by heavy rainfall and flooding events and Covid impacts,” the spokesman said.

“For safety reasons, the public are not permitted to access the construction site. Unfortunately, the site has been illegally accessed after hours and on weekends, which is interrupting construction works.

“As this is a construction site, some access tracks, pathways and vegetation have been removed to allow heavy machinery to enter the site, deliver materials and conduct drainage works.”

He said repeated adverse weather events had allowed Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and the contractor to improve the design to mitigate the future impacts of damaging weather.

“As part of the redesign, it was necessary to remove one toilet from the site, due to its age and condition,”

Due to decreasing numbers of campers, the decision was made last April to scrap the Alligator Creek long term campground.

Originally published as Time consuming redevelopment of Alligator Creek visitor site comes under fire