Where’s Wangetti? Councillor claims trail fail but Government says it’s still on

##MP##

A Cairns Council member says the Queensland Government seems to be backing away from the much-anticipated Wangetti Trail project, claiming key elements may not proceed.

The State Government announced the project in 2018, committing to build a 94-kilometre link between Palm Cove and Port Douglas with walking and mountain bike trails.

The trail did not open in March this year, as scheduled.

##BA##

Brett Olds is councillor for Division Nine, where the southern end of the trail would begin.

He says the project is a long way behind schedule and the State Government may not deliver it as promised.

“They made the election commitment up here in 2018 that they were going to have mountain biking and walking, so you can do both the whole way.

“We got told two weeks ago they’re trying to renege on that and say between Wangetti and Port Douglas, maybe it will be walking only.

“The mountain biking community is up in arms. That is not good enough at all.

##PQ##

“There should be nothing disappointing about this project because everyone you ask is just ecstatic about it and can see the benefits for tourism, for locals.”

 Councillor Olds said the Government has not been providing enough information on the state of the project, a claim denied by Member for Cairns, Michael Healy.

“We have a consultative group that meets on a regular basis, both Port Douglas and Cairns Regional Council are involved.

“We have mountain biking people involved, a range of people in meetings on a regular basis.

“Yes, the project is definitely behind schedule. There’s a thing called COVID that’s had a huge impact on it.

“There’s a bridge that’s been built, there are things underway, scoping documents have been done, there have been significant environmental approvals at Federal and local government level.

“We have Council representatives sitting in our meetings, so I’m just a little bit at a loss as to why he (Councillor Olds) wouldn’t be aware of what’s happening.”

##PQ2##

Mr Healy said he expected work to begin soon on the project in Palm Cove.

Despite the delays, Cairns Regional Council today voted to approve a three-year trustee lease agreement with the State to facilitate the building of the trail.

In June, Douglas Shire Council revoked its pledge to take ownership of the northern-most section of the trail, expressing concerns about unapproved route changes, delays, and a blow-out in depreciation costs.

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.