The Snowy Valleys community will today celebrate the grand opening of new tourism facilities in Bago State Forest, near the towns of Tumut, Batlow and Tumbarumba.
The 'Enhancing Nature Based Tourism' project, funded by the NSW Government and completed by Forestry Corporation and its partners, has delivered new and upgraded visitor facilities serving as a drawcard for the regional tourism industry.
The program of works includes: a new Sugar Pines visitor area replacing the iconic stand of Sugar Pines lost in the 2019-2020 Black Summer Bushfires, a new Wellness Walk at Pilot Hill Arboretum, a reinvigorated Alpine Ash Walk, environmental and visitor improvements at Paddys River and Paling Yards and upgrades to the Lochinvar Rest Area on Batlow Rd in Green Hills State Forest.
The new Bago Sculpture Forest, forming part of the larger Snowy Valley Sculpture Trail, is a key feature of the new Sugar Pines, Pilot Hill and the Alpine Ash Walk with Stephen King's Sculpture Grid Study IV funded by the project.
Forestry Corporation received $2 million in grants and contributed significant in-kind resources.
Minister for Agriculture, Regional NSW and Western NSW The Hon Tara Moriarty MLC said:
"The NSW Government is committed to delivering tourism projects and infrastructure that unlock growth in our regions by building on regional visitor economies," Ms Moriarty said.
"The Bago State Forest project is one of these important projects, delivering tourism and environmental outcomes designed to build the Snowy Valleys visitor economy."
Forestry Corporation of NSW Chief Executive Officer Anshul Chaudhary said:
"The forest and timber industry has always been an important part of the local community in the Snowy Valleys. Our Pine plantations and Alpine Ash forests were devastated by the Black Summer Bushfires and together with our staff, the timber industry, partners and community we have rebuilt and reinvested in our forests," Mr Chaudhary said.
"This program of forest-based environment and tourism works has helped the community to reposition as a regional tourism destination and has brought visitors back to the beautiful Snowy Valleys.
Sculpture by the Sea Founding CEO & Artistic Director David Handley AM said:
"The Bago State Forest and the Ash Walk are places locals will want to visit and share with their friends. We are grateful for the shared vision by many to achieve this great result," Mr Handley said.
"It has been a humbling privilege to create the Bago Sculpture Forest in partnership with the local communities across the Snowy Valleys and Forestry Corporation. We welcome visitors from near and far to wander the three sites in Bago Sculpture Forest to experience artworks by artists from Iceland to England and the Czech Republic to around the corner in Batlow."
"The feedback we are getting from visitors and locals about the sculptures, especially at Pilot Hill Arboretum and the 1.5km Alpine Ash Walk has been really positive with a considerable increase in visitation."
Bago State Forest covers an area of more than 50,000 hectares between Tumbarumba, Laurel Hill, Batlow, Tumut and Talbingo, consisting of both pine plantations and native forests, including areas managed for ongoing timber production, conservation and visitor experiences.
A strong focus of this project has been commencing environmental restoration of the Paling Yards and Paddys Dam visitor areas, while enabling visitor experience for bushwalking, horse riding, fishing and camping.
Partners in the project include Sculpture By the Sea, The Connective Co., NSW Murrumbidgee Local Health District, The Mulloon Institute, Planet Ark and the Tumut Brungle Local Aboriginal Land Council.
