WORKS to re-open Mt Warning’s iconic summit walk have begun using $200,000 restoration money from the NSW Government.
The track had been closed since late January after landslides and major tree falls left in the wake of ex-tropical cyclone Oswald made the climb too dangerous.
Member for Tweed Geoff Provest and Member for Lismore, Thomas George, urged NSW Environment Minister Robyn Parker to make re-opening of the track a priority due to its importance to the local economy.
Mr Provest said the initial funding would enable a rudimentary track to the summit to be opened which would then allow a proper assessment of the issues that would need to be addressed to get a new and permanent track built.
He stressed the work was time-consuming.
“Under Occupational Health and Safety regulations they are only allowed teams of eight up there at any one time and there is no machinery to be used so it is hard, time-consuming pick and shovel work,” he said.
Mr Provest said a specialist track team was being brought in from Tasmania to assist local National Parks staff and consultation with the Wollumbin Aboriginal Consultative Group had been undertaken.
Although the $200,000 is only part of the what it will cost to get the tourist trail back in full operation, MrProvest expected the government would allocate more money in next financial year’s budget to the restoration works.
Tweed mayor Barry Longland commended the government’s prompt response of to the appeal for urgency from Mr Provest and Mr George.
“This will be reassuring for the many local businesses and communities who have suffered a severe downturn in trade and visitation since the track closed so suddenly a few months ago,” he said.
Cr Longland said 100,000 people climbed the summit every year with many more drawn to the area by Mt Warning’s appeal.
“Out of something bad will come something good because this has forced us to look at other world heritage experiences people can have in the shire.”
Cr Longland said there were a number of little-promoted walking trails that the region’s tourism body Destination Tweed would investigate with a view to developing as an extra drawcard for nature lovers.
