Wangetti Trail works to recommence after wet season as minister meets to ‘look at’ remaining stages
The Far North’s most significant new tourism attraction is under a construction cloud as the state government explains what’s holding up the Wangetti Trail.
Cairns
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The Far North’s most significant new tourism attraction is under a construction cloud as the state government reaffirms its pledge to “deliver the Wangetti Trail”.
But Minister for the Environment and Tourism Andrew Powell would not reveal a timeline on the “underwhelming” project other than to say the “wet season” had halted works.
“We are in conversations around how that proceeds,” he said.
“I’ve heard feedback from Assistant Minister Bree James that people are rather underwhelmed by what they’ve seen on stage one.
“I give this commitment – we will deliver the Wangetti Trail and it will be spectacular.”
The first 7.8km of the $47m, 94km trail, which when completed is expected to offer a multi-day hike from Palm Cove to Port Douglas, opened in September 2024.
Like many construction projects the trail had been plagued by its share of challenges, with the weather among a number of factors contributing to design changes.
It was initially expected to be completed in 2022 at a cost of about $21m.
“At the moment the works aren’t happening (on the remaining sections) because it’s the wet season,” Mr Powell said.
“The fantastic thing is there is a contract in place for further works, my understanding is they will commence at the appropriate time.
“It’s also allowing us to have an opportunity to look at where we go from here.
“I’m literally walking from this into a meeting with stakeholders here in Cairns who want to give me their feedback on what’s transpired to date and how we can potentially take
it forward from here.”
At that meeting on Tuesday afternoon was renowned trail builder Glen Jacobs of World Trail, who had been vocal in his criticism of the completed section between Palm Cove and Ellis Beach.
Asked if the local trail builder was now being considered by the government to complete the project, Mr Jacobs said: “Business is business, these projects go out, you win some you lose some”.
“Worst case scenario – we hope we can play a consulting role,” Mr Jacobs said.
“There was another local trail building company at the meeting, there were local clubs, local runners; trail building is a relatively new skill and we have the most experience.”
He said Mr Powell did not offer any further commitments or actions from the meeting, describing the round table as a “bit of a listen on how things can be done properly”.
Meanwhile, Barron River MP Ms James’ election pledge of $14m towards expanding the Smithfield Mountain Bike Park network was now being discussed in “pre-budget processes”, the tourism minister said.
Mr Jacobs on a recent episode of How Good Are Humans? podcast, told host Isaac McCarthy works would “definitely” commence in 2025.
“(In 2025) they’re starting to put everything in place,” he said on the podcast.
“And I think we’ll see something very soon. It was (Ms James’) policy. She agreed to it and the government’s in place and it was her idea so let’s get funding and make that happen.”
WHAT MAKES A SUCCESSFUL TOURISM TAX
A visitor tax for Cairns is gaining momentum as industry leaders gathered on Tuesday to help shape the State Government’s 20-year tourism plan.
More than 150 industry stakeholders met the Reef Hotel Casino on Tuesday for a workshop where they were encouraged to part ways with “motherhood statements” and throw forward issues the region faced as well as bold ideas to boost the sector.
Queensland Tourism Industry Council chief executive Natassia Wheeler arrived in Cairns on Monday and after speaking with local operators said she expected issues such as workforce attraction and visa streamlining would make part of Cairns’ submissions to the Destination 2045 document.
She said operators had also been vocal about the cost of insurance and bridging the gap between the cost of doing business.
Quizzed about the introduction of a possible tourism tax in Cairns, Ms Wheeler said it was ultimately a decision for local leaders, but said underpinning successful models from around the world was “solid dialogue” on ensuring it was fairly applied and benefited the sector.
“We’re talking about a lot of small to medium enterprises, a lot of mum and dad businesses, that’s where the meaningful dialogue needs to come in around the nuances of it all,” she said.
“What works for some, doesn’t work for all, but the dialogue needs to come in so that all areas of the sector can contribute equally.”
TTNQ chief executive Mark Olsen said based on average growth over the last 10 years, the Far North’s average daily visitor numbers would grow from 55,000 today, to 93,000 per day in 20 years, and the community would need to “find a way to support that growth”.
Mr Olsen said while similar levies around the world charged about 3 per cent, he believed it was not yet the time to discuss the mechanics of the tax, but to have conversations about why it could be implemented.
Tourism Minister Andrew Powell said he was supportive of “the conversation” on the proposed tax, and said during the round table, operators had raised with him the importance of further funding the Attracting Aviation Investment Fund.
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