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Wangetti Trail South Update

20 Jul 2021

Since securing the design and construct tender for Wangetti South, world-leaders Wagners CFT have been onsite to conduct detailed surveying and design works. The 33-kilometre Wangetti South section will connect Palm Cove to the Wangetti township and feature a public camping site.

The protection of the natural and cultural values of the unique World Heritage listed landscape the trail will traverse is paramount. The Project Team has been working closely with the Wet Tropics Management Authority and the Australian Government to deliver the trail in line with a suite of strict conditions and strategies to mitigate any risks to the environment during the construction and operation of the Wangetti Trail.

Last year the Queensland Government referred the Wangetti Trail project to the Australian Government for assessment under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).

In the coming weeks, the Queensland Government will submit information on the management plans and strategies that will be upheld throughout construction of Wangetti South section of the trail to the Australian Government under the EPBC Act. Following this submission, there will be a public notification period in which the public will be invited to comment on the project. Details on how to make a formal submission will be available on the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment website, and details will be made available on the on the Department of Tourism, Innovation and Sport website.

The Wangetti South section of the trail will provide employment and traineeships for locals and Traditional Owners including cultural monitoring onsite to protect items of cultural significance found during construction. Subject to necessary approvals, it is anticipated construction of the Wangetti South section of the trail will commence late 2021.

The $41.4 million Wangetti Trail project is funded by the Australian Government under the National Tourism Icons Program and the Queensland Government and once complete is expected to inject up to $300 million into the local economy each year.