The local community and national park users are invited to have their say on a draft masterplan which outlines the proposed 3-night, 4-day Tweed Byron Hinterland Walk, the centrepiece of the NSW Government's $7.35 million Tweed Byron Hinterland Trails project.
Russell Madeley, Director for North Coast National Parks and Wildlife Service said the proposed walk will deliver a challenging and immersive multi-day experience that traverses the ancestral lands of the Widjabul Wia-bal and Minjungbal People of the Bundjalung Nation.
"This incredibly special area traverses through part of the World Heritage–listed Gondwana Rainforests of Australia and is noted for its exceptional biodiversity," Mr Madeley said.
"The 36-kilometre walk will link Mount Jerusalem National Park near Uki, to Minyon Falls in Nightcap National Park and will broaden access to this beautiful part of the world in an environmentally and culturally sensitive way.
"The main walking track will also feature three new remote camps which will provide basic facilities designed to accommodate a sustainable number of low-impact walkers.
"A number of short walks and side tracks off the main route will offer additional walking opportunities so that a more diverse range of visitors can enjoy this area's spectacular national parks.
"This project will give visitors to the Northern Rivers a reason to venture out from tourist hot spots such as Byron Bay and extend their stay in the region, delivering a real boost for the local economy," Mr Madeley said.
The Tweed Byron Hinterland Walk has been carefully designed to ensure the natural and cultural values of the parks, including threatened species, ecological communities, and Aboriginal cultural and historic heritage, are protected, and conserved.
The proposed route includes 27.3 kilometres of existing walking tracks, park management trails and old logging trails, which will be upgraded to Class 4 walking track standard, and 8.3 kilometres of new walking tracks.
The walk and associated sites will be named in consultation with Aboriginal custodians.
National parks provide a huge boost to the visitor economy in Northern NSW, generating $974 million per year in economic activity and supporting more than 600 jobs.
The Tweed Byron Hinterland Trails project is part of the largest investment in national parks history, with $450 million being delivered to more than 200 visitor infrastructure projects across the State.
The Tweed Byron Hinterland Walk draft master plan is on public exhibition until Monday 24 November.
