Work on the long-awaited Cooee to Wynyard Coastal Pathway has officially started with the first sod on the project turned today.
Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Michael Ferguson, said it was a day some 26 years in the making.
"The full North West Coastal Pathway project was first conceived in 1997 with a full proposal to link the 110 kilometres between Latrobe and Wynyard completed in 2010," Mr Ferguson said.
"It really shows the determination of our north west communities that we're here all these years later kicking off work on the 15th of 18 sections of the overall pathway."
The Rockliff Liberal Government is providing almost $14 million to the Burnie City and Waratah-Wynyard councils to complete the Cooee to Wynyard section of this multi-use pathway along the Bass Strait coastline.
Mr Ferguson said the Cooee to Wynyard section was the single longest section of the project.
"With major sections including Sulphur Creek to Penguin, Leith to Turners Beach, Turners Beach to West Ulverstone and Latrobe to Ambleside already complete, it's great to see this latest 13.2 kilometre section get underway," he said.
"Earlier this year we reconfirmed our funding for the project to ensure the project is successfully delivered without delay.
"Since then we have been working closely with the region's councils to progress the necessary legislative approvals to allow this important project to commence.
"The shared pathway has long been a vision of the north west community and will have significant social and health benefits for communities along the coast.
"In reality it is more than a pathway, it will connect people across five municipal areas, providing opportunities for physical activity and social interaction.
"I look forward to seeing the Cooee to Wynyard section of the pathway completed in late 2024."
