Works to provide world class track

AN eight-month, $800,000 upgrade of National Park walking tracks started Monday 21 November, with diversions in place for walkers.
The upgrade project starts at the main entry of the park and ends at Hell’s Gates, and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) senior ranger Omar Bakhach said works would continue in staged sections until June next year.
“The track will remain open, with detours in place during the works,” he said.
The joint State-Federally funded project will remove and replace older, degraded sections of track, provide extra seating along the track for walkers to rest and enjoy the views, improve access for those with disabilities, develop a viewing area with seating at Dolphin Point, revegetate worn areas and update signage about the park’s features.
“The first detour would be around the section of track from the main carpark day-use area to Boiling Pot, and will be from Monday 21 November until Friday 16 December,” Mr Bakhach said.
“During that period, visitors will still be able to walk to Boiling Pot lookout. However, those wanting to take the coastal track beyond Boiling Pot will need to walk back towards the carpark, and detour signage will redirect them to the vehicle service track behind the park information centre.
“From there they will follow detour signs for about 350 metres. They’ll then re-join the coastal track at The Grove area just before Tea Tree Bay. The diversion will be well signposted. The detour won’t be suitable for wheelchairs or prams as it’s a rough gravel surface.”
Works will stop over the Christmas/New Year period then restart mid-January with the project planned for completion by July next year.
“For their own safety, visitors must not enter closed areas during the works and must observe signage,” Mr Bakhach said.
“We apologise for the inconvenience, especially to those who use the walking track regularly, but it’s much-needed work on a vital Sunshine Coast tourism asset.
“We applied for funding on the basis that the Headland section of Noosa National Park is a major economic and tourism drawcard. It’s one of the most visited natural areas in Australia – more than 1.4 million visitors use the coastal walking track each year.
“The work is a joint initiative between the Queensland Department of National Parks, Sport and Racing (NPSR) and the Australian Government.”
Mr Bakhach said NPSR had successfully applied for $400,000 from the Tourism Demand Driver
Infrastructure Program administered by the Queensland Government’s Department of Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games (DTESB).
“The funds will allow us to undertake improvements to sections of track along the coastal walk that missed out on upgrades during previous projects, and bring the track to a world-class standard. We also plan to enhance the lawn areas at the main entrance as part of the project.”
Mr Bakhach said NPSR had invested heavily in the park’s Headland section in recent years, completing upgrades of focal points such as the Boiling Pot and Hells Gates viewing areas.
“We also redeveloped the car park and day-use area in 1999, did a major upgrade of the main entrance’s interpretation displays in 2007, and carried out major track upgrades in 2003 and 2009,” he said.
“Previous track work won us a STEPS disability award back in 2004, in recognition of the improved wheelchair access to natural areas. The new works will further improve assisted access to this beautiful park.
“The current project will improve the tourism experience. The upgrade will complement the council’s pedestrian boardwalk from the tourism hub of Main Beach and Hastings Street to the national park.”
For the latest information about the works, check ‘park alerts’ at www.npsr.qld.gov.au