The Dorrigo Escarpment great walk proposal
The Dorrigo Escarpment great walk is a proposed multi-day walk that will connect visitors to Gumbaynggirr Country and the wonders of Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage.
The great walk is a single-direction 4-day walking track that will start at the proposed new Dorrigo Arc Rainforest Centre in Dorrigo National Park and finish at the Bindarray picnic area in Bindarri National Park.
The draft master plan provides further detail about the location and design of the proposed multi-day walking experience: Dorrigo Escarpment great walk draft master plan.
The review of environmental factors
The review of environmental factors documents the environmental and cultural impact assessment of the proposed activities to construct and operate a new multi-day walk in Dorrigo and Bindarri national parks. The review is a requirement under the NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. It examines the significance of the proposal's likely environmental impacts and details the measures required to mitigate adverse impacts to natural, cultural, and social values.
The multi-day walk, as outlined in the review, involves:
- constructing about 44.1 km of walking track, which will vary from 600 to 900 mm in width
- upgrading about 8.6 km of vehicle management trails to support the walk's construction and future servicing
- constructing 3 new hiker camps with bunk accommodation, tent platforms, communal shelters and toilets
- upgrading an existing remote camping area with a new toilet and camping platforms
- upgrading the existing Baliiga (Never Never) picnic area
- constructing 43 water crossings including 5 pedestrian bridges and one vehicle bridge
- establishing 14 scenic viewpoints or lookouts
- installing wayfinding and interpretation signs.
Overall, the review concludes that the construction and operation of the walk will have only a minor impact on the environment and values of the national parks. In consultation with key stakeholders, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service has made significant refinements to the walking track route and its design and operation principles to best avoid and manage impacts and ensure the conservation of key park values.
Download
Review of Environmental Factors – Dorrigo Escarpment Great Walk
Supporting documents
- A. Dorrigo Escarpment Great Walk – Ecological Assessment (PDF 110.1MB)
- B. Dorrigo Escarpment Great Walk – Matters of National Environmental Significance Assessment (PDF 2.31MB)
- C. Dorrigo Escarpment Great Walk – Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment – not published for confidentiality and sensitivity reasons (summary provided in review of environmental factors)
- D. Dorrigo Escarpment Great Walk – Statement of Heritage Impact (PDF 9.13MB)
- E. Dorrigo Escarpment Great Walk – Project mapping (PDF 4.57MB)
Your feedback is important
Thank you for providing feedback during the public exhibition period. Your feedback helps the determining authority to decide whether an activity should be approved and assists in the development of appropriate conditions should approval be given.
What happens next?
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service will collate and consider the submissions received during public exhibition of the review of environmental factors. We will then determine whether the proposal should proceed as proposed or be modified. If the proposal is determined to proceed, we will publish the final review of environmental factors and its decision statement and keep the community informed about the project's delivery.
The project will also be referred to the Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) to assess the level of impacts to National and World Heritage and threatened species.