- Construction of Wangetti Trail south in Tropical North Queensland begins
- Part of a 94-kilometre walking and mountain bike trail from Palm Cove to Port Douglas
- Wangetti Trail to support more than 150 local jobs and up to $300 million for visitor economy.
Construction has started on Queensland's first purpose-built walking and mountain bike track through a World Heritage-listed area and three national parks.
An earth turning ceremony on Transport and Main Roads land at Palm Cove today signalled the beginning of construction on the southern section of the 94-kilometre Wangetti Trail.
The dual walking and mountain bike trail from Palm Cove to Port Douglas is co-designed with Traditional Owners, the Djabugay Nation.
During construction and operation, Wangetti Trail is predicted to support more than 150 good local jobs.
The Trail creates long-term commercial and tourism opportunities for Traditional Owners and local businesses, generating up to $300 million for the visitor economy.
Stage one includes 1.3 kilometres of local multi-use pathway from Palm Cove to 6.5 kilometres of natural ground surface treatments for a shared mountain bike and hiking trail.
Trial alignment is designed to minimise impact on the natural environment.
Built structures will include gully crossings, bridges and rock armouring with the trail intersecting 26 waterways.
Wangetti Trail's first stage from Palm Cove Jetty to the Ellis Beach foreshore is expected to be operational by the third quarter of 2024, weather permitting.
The $47.1 million Wangetti Trail is funded by the Palaszczuk Government with $8 million from the Federal Government's National Tourism Icons Program.
Quotes attributable to Djabugay Nation Applicant:
"We are Djabugay Nation representing the five groups - Djabuganydji, Yirrganydji, Nyagali, Buluwanydji, and Guluy.
"The Wangetti Trail will provide business, education, training and employment opportunities for our people including pathways for our young people, our Elders and our community members working and celebrating Country.
"The Trail will showcase our ancient culture, stories, history, and our Country's natural wonders to share with the world.
"By recognising the Trail's significance to the Djabugay Nation's people, it supports the process of healing.
"The Trail follows the ancient trail used by our Elders as traditional walking pathways throughout the Country to do business, connect and celebrate together.
"Every part along the Trail has a story that has been handed down through generations.
"We look forward to collaborating and developing long-term relationships and creating new opportunities for the future.
"We wish to acknowledge and thank everyone involved in the project from the beginning to this point, and growing the partnership with the Queensland Government, local Councils and other stakeholders."
Member for Cairns and Assistant Tourism Minister Michael Healy said:
"Wangetti Trail is a highly complex project through a World Heritage area and three national parks with Traditional Owners, who rightly want to see their land preserved and protected.
"Getting started on this unique, world-class visitor experience is a great day for our community, but we need to get it right to maximise Wangetti Trail's community benefits.
"With remarkable views, good Queensland jobs and business opportunities for Traditional owners, Wangetti Trail will add a new dimension to the Tropical North's visitor economy."
Member for Barron River and Child Safety, Seniors and Disability Services Minister Craig Crawford said:
"Wangetti Trail will be of a game changer for Tropical North Queensland and Palm Cove as one of the many jewels in this region's crown.
"Palm Cove is already known as Australia's spa capital, and this opens a pipeline of new possibilities local businesses at the trail's southern starting point.
"We've consulted closely with Traditional Owners to co-design Wangetti Trail to get the best result for the environment and the region's rich Indigenous culture."
Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said:
"Sustainable tourism is a $280 billion global visitor industry, highlighted by the Towards Tourism 2032 roadmap as having enormous potential for Tropical North Queensland.
"Cairns is already recognised as a world-class mountain bike adventure destination, and we see Wangetti Trail building on that reputation on our runway to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
"Building trails of the calibre of Wangetti takes meticulous planning with a project half the size in Tasmania talking a decade to become shovel ready.
"Once completed, Wangetti Trail will a significant contributor to the growth of the Tropical North's domestic and international visitor economies."
Minister for Environment and the Great Barrier Reef, Leanne Linard said:
"The Wangetti Trail traverses the Macalister Range, Mowbray and Kuranda national parks and is also within the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. It will be a signification evolution for ecotourism in Queensland and Australia.
"The Far North is truly blessed with an unparalleled natural environment and by working together we can responsibly utilise our natural environment to position the region internationally as an ecotourism destination."
Federal Tourism Minister Senator Don Farrell said:
International travellers are increasingly looking to experience Australia's natural and cultural heritage, including First Nations cultures.
"Wangetti Trail will wind through some of the most stunning wilderness in Tropical North Queensland, which is already renowned for its quality outdoor and adventure tourism.
"New and improved experiences like this one will help bring more international tourists to the region create Australian jobs, and support the local economy."
