Work starts on world-class trail north of Cairns
WORK has started on a world-class 76km mountain bike and walking track between Palm Cove and Port Douglas.
Cairns
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WORK has started on a world-class 76km mountain bike and walking track between Palm Cove and Port Douglas.
Designers were on site at Wangetti yesterday collecting data two weeks after Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones announced the State Government’s $950,000 pledge to bankroll the design and business case for the $21 million Wangetti Trail. Ms Jones said Cairns-based World Trail had been appointed to start the work this week.
“We will be working closely with indigenous groups and specialised consultants and engineers to ensure the highest design standards are achieved while minimising impacts on the environment,” she said.
Ms Jones said it would be funded from the $46 million Regional Tourism Infrastructure Fund announced in the State Budget yesterday.
“We’re serious about getting this project under way. That’s why we’ve already got boots on the ground working on our proposal,” she said.
Ms Jones said “ground-truthing” work was tipped to begin this month with construction possible as early as 2019.
“The Wangetti Trail is potentially a game changer for tourism in the far north,” she said. Estimates show the project could be worth as much as $300 million for the local economy.
Accommodation nodes along the trail would offer camping facilities as well as luxury offerings in the form of “glamping” or lodges.
Douglas Shire Mayor Julia Leu said it was “ heartening to see work start on this potentially treasured world-class attraction”.
“The trail will embrace Douglas Shire’s coastal ruggedness and pristine hinterlands,” she said.
Tourism Tropical North Queensland chief executive Pip Close welcomed the start.
“An iconic World Heritage trail from Palm Cove to Port Douglas will help boost Tropical North Queensland’s domestic market by giving Australian travellers a compelling reason to revisit the destination,” she said.
Originally published as Work starts on world-class trail north of Cairns