Visitor boom prompts upgrade for Fortescue Bay
A NEW day use shelter and general amenities will be built at Fortescue Bay in the Tasman National Park because of a significant increase in visitors.
A NEW day use shelter and general amenities will be built at Fortescue Bay in the Tasman National Park because of a significant increase in visitors.
The Parks and Wildlife Service has called for tenders for the construction of a walkers’ shelter, four toilets and showers, car parking and a replacement caretaker management facility.
All work will begin early next year.
Fortescue Bay, located south of Eaglehawk Neck, is a popular destination for day users, campers and fishermen.
It is the start point for the Cape Hauy Track and the end point of the Three Capes Track and the Tasman Coastal Trail.
Parks project manager Andrew Wagg said visitor numbers had increased because of the popularity of the Cape Hauy Track and opening of the Three Capes Track.
A total of 9600 walkers took on the Cape Hauy track during the 11 months to December 2015, a 90 per cent increase in walkers from 2002-03.
“The new shelter provides barbecue and picnic facilities for visitors and a place for walkers to start and end their walk,” Mr Wagg said.
“The day use and bushwalkers shelter will be located in the day use area.
“The new facilities, toilets and showers are for day users, walkers and campers.
“A new caretakers’ house is required because the existing one has reached the end of its useful life.”
The old house will be demolished.
Mr Wagg said the start and end date of construction depended on contractor availability, with work needed to be co-ordinated with existing use of the campsites.
“We would expect work to start early 2017 and be complete during 2017,” he said.
Parks were unable to disclose the cost of the project due to the tender process.
Originally published as Visitor boom prompts upgrade for Fortescue Bay
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