Contracts have been awarded for 32km of the Wangetti Trail

The successful contractor to build a major 32km-long section of Wangetti Trail has been revealed.

Brad Jones with Steph Garner with their bikes at Flagstaff Hill Lookout. The Wangetti Trail is a proposed 76-kilometre dual use track in North Queensland stretching along the coastal plains and mountain hinterland between Palm Cove in the South and Port Douglas in the North. Picture: Romy Bullerjahn

A BRISBANE-BASED company has been awarded the first of three contracts to design and build the $41.4m Wangetti Trail.

Wagners CFT Manufacturing will build a walking and mountain biking trail about 32km long from Palm Cove to Wangetti, as well as a public camping area and daytrip trail to Ellis Beach.

Member for Cook Cynthia Lui said Wagners would partner with Enviroedge of Townsville to deliver the first section of the trail using local tradesmen and women and labourers.

“The government has a clear strategy to invest in new infrastructure that will create jobs in our community,” she said.

Angie Johnson from the Bike Shop and Hire Port Douglas is looking forward to riding the Wangetti Trail PIC: GIZELLE GHIDELLA

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“The Wangetti Trail has already created dozens of construction jobs for local workers.

“And once it’s up and running, this project could create around 150 tourism jobs in the future,” she said.

Member for Cairns Michael Healy said while construction of the Mowbray North bridge was already under way, the contract announced on Tuesday would cover the first section of the trail.

Member for Barron River Craig Crawford said the project would create about 20 local jobs during construction.

“The Wangetti Trail will pump millions of dollars into our economy and is supporting local construction jobs at a time we need it most,” he said.

A potential lookout location above Ellis Beach as part of the new $41.4 million Wangetti Trail. Picture: World Trail.

Mr Crawford said the other two design and construct tenders for Wangetti North (about 54km from Wangetti to the Mowbray River, featuring four public camping areas, four eco accommodation sites and a suspension bridge) and Mowbray North (about 7km from Mowbray River to Port Douglas) would be released in 2021.

“The Wangetti Trail will be a one-of-a-kind experience, attracting hikers and cyclists from across Australia and the globe,” Federal Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch said.

The state government is committing $33.4m to the construction the trail, supported by $8m from the Australian government’s National Tourism Icons package.

Mowbray North plan of the Wangetti Trail.

Originally published as Contracts have been awarded for 32km of the Wangetti Trail