Cairns moves ahead; Douglas Shire reviewing designs

Wangetti Trail

Howard Salkow

Senior Journalist

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The Wangetti Trail will provide magnificent scenery in Far North Queensland. Image: supplied by DSC.

The $41.4m Wangetti Trail is on track as far as the Cairns Regional Council is concerned after locking in the design of the southernmost stretch.

At their most recent meeting, they approved plans to move ahead with a 12km hiking and cycling trail between Palm Cove and Ellis Beach.

But the caveat that stands in the way of this 94km scenic route that terminates in Port Douglas, is Douglas Shire Council agreeing to the design of their major portion of the route.

The Wangetti Trail Map. Image: Queensland Ecotourism Trails.

The Wangetti Trail will be Queensland’s first purpose built walking and mountain biking track in a national park and one of Australia’s leading adventure based ecotourism experiences, attracting visitors on an international scale.

The Queensland Government is delivering the $41.4 million Wangetti Trail in Tropical North Queensland. The 94km walking and mountain biking trail will stretch from Palm Cove to Port Douglas and will showcase the stunning coastal and hinterland scenery of the World Heritage-listed Wet Tropics and the Great Barrier Reef.

To deliver the project $33.4 million of State funds has been allocated to the construction of the trail complemented by the Australian Government’s investment of $8 million into the project from the National Tourism Icons Program.

Kerr responds

Douglas Shire Mayor Michael Kerr said the town planners – who would have received possible designs from the State Government to approve – are working with the government on a design.

“This also needs to go before Council and if approved, we can move ahead,” said Kerr.

Upon completion, the Wangetti Trail is expected to be a ‘Grade 3’ (medium difficulty) for walkers and ‘More Difficult’ for mountain bikers, providing an accessible but challenging offering for visitors.

The Queensland Government is seeking approvals for the whole Wangetti Trail to be a walking and mountain biking trail from Palm Cove to Port Douglas, including the possibility of utilising existing trail links to help determine how the trail will be used.

These alignment options have been developed to minimise new clearing within the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area and avoid sensitive environmental and cultural areas identified by ecologists and Traditional Owners.

Access points for emergency services, rangers and park operators are proposed to utilise existing tracks and trails near the Wangetti Trail alignment and may change over time subject to environmental assessment and approvals.

Delivery of the Wangetti Trail has been split into a number of works packages which suit the specialist skills of targeted builders and contractors accordingly.

The Trail will be delivered in three sections:

  • Wangetti South: 33km walking and mountain biking trail from Palm Cove to Wangetti;
  • Wangetti North: 54km walking and mountain biking trail from Wangetti to Mowbray River;
  • Mowbray North: 7km walking and mountain biking trail from Mowbray River to Port Douglas.

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