Dorrigo Escarpment Great Walk
This is Gumbaynggirr Country, and we acknowledge Elders past, present and future. We respect the rights and aspirations of the Gumbaynggirr People as custodians of their Country.
Contents
- Upcoming opportunity to have your say
- Environmental impact assessment to commence
- Destination North Coast Board visit
- Local ingenuity on show
- Bindarri National Park revegetation project
- Moving towards being asbestos-free
- Dorrigo depot gets a revamp
- World Rainforest Day showcases conservation initiatives
Upcoming opportunity to have your say
A new plan of management for Dorrigo and Bindarri national parks and Bindarri State Conservation Area will soon be released for public feedback. The draft plan contains information on important park values and provides key strategic directions for the future management of these parks.
Draft master plans for the proposed Dorrigo Escarpment Great Walk, and the Dorrigo Arc Rainforest Centre will also go on public exhibition. The draft master plans provide further detail about the location and concept designs for the proposed multi-day walking experience, replacement visitor centre and elevated walkway, with completion planned for 2026–27.
Public consultation on the draft plans provides an important opportunity for the community to have a say on the new visitor centre and multi-day walk proposals, as well as the high-level strategic approach to the broader management of the parks. Through asking for feedback on these 3 draft plans, we seek to understand the various interests, values, needs and perspectives of the people our decisions affect and use this knowledge to improve our plans.
We'll notify you when the 60-day consultation period commences and tell you how you can hear more about the draft plans and provide your feedback.
Environmental impact assessment to commence
Eco Logical Australia are preparing for its heritage and environmental impact assessment work on the Dorrigo Escarpment Great Walk proposal. A recent reconnaissance field trip reviewed logistical and safety matters in this rugged location, in preparation for conducting the Aboriginal cultural surveys and plant and animal surveys during spring.
The Eco Logical Australia team includes both environmental and heritage experts who will provide NPWS with independent advice on the potential impacts of the proposals over the next 6 months.
Aboriginal parties have been invited to register their interest in being consulted on the Aboriginal cultural heritage assessments for the proposals. As a first priority, the heritage consultants will work with the registered Aboriginal parties to survey the walk route and assess Aboriginal places of significance, to provide guidance on the spiritual and cultural values associated with Country, and how best to respect these values.
The environmental impact assessment reports (review of environmental factors) will be available for public comment when completed.
Destination North Coast Board visit
The Destination North Coast Board enjoyed a recent trip to the Bellingen Shire, meeting with Bellingen Shire Council and the National Parks and Wildlife Service with a particular focus on the new Dorrigo Arc Rainforest Centre and Dorrigo Escarpment Great Walk proposals.
The Board welcome the investment of $56 million in this significant project which will see improved and expanded opportunities for people to experience nature in positive and meaningful ways.
Behind the scenery
A short wrap-up of other activities within Dorrigo and Bindarri national parks.
Local ingenuity on show
Hardwood lookout is having a facelift as part of the Wonga Walk upgrade in Dorrigo National Park. But how do you move several 300 kg steel beams into place on a remote steep site in the rainforest?
That was the dilemma facing project manager Tom Denman, who weighed up (pun intended) the options.
'We ruled out helicopter sling loading due to the dense rainforest canopy and the potential damage from rotor downwash,' Tom said.
'Fortunately, we have been working on the track upgrades with Jack Buchanan from innovative local company Avirida, who designed and built a great little trailer system that handled the heavy 4-metre-long beams easily.
'We used traffic control for a few hours to allow Stan Cork Machinery's truck crane to unload the beams from a nearby pull-off area on Waterfall Way. Then Jack and his team safely manoeuvred the beams on a steep access track down to the lookout site.
'Frontier Assembly assembled the lookout platform on site and once the approaches have been completed, the lookout will be ready to offer visitors a safer and enhanced view.'
Bindarri National Park revegetation project
A large restoration project in Bindarri National Park is returning pasture to koala habitat as part of the NSW Koala Strategy.
Over 6,500 young trees were planted over 7 hectares by a contract team in just over 2 days, a mammoth effort. Each plant has a tree guard, weed mat and stake, and is planted in a herbicide-sprayed 1 square metre. That's a lot of work when done 6,500 times.
The trees had a great start, with regular autumn rain and high soil moisture providing perfect growing conditions. The next challenge is keeping on top of the rapidly growing pasture around the replanted areas and crossing our fingers for more spring rain.
Moving towards being asbestos free
Project Officer Andy Winter has been on a personal crusade against asbestos in national parks in Coffs Coast Area for many years. We're one step closer to ridding our parks of asbestos with the recent clean-up of a pile of asbestos from an old hut on Dome Road in Dorrigo National Park.
The hut was near an old quarry site next to the road and was safely removed and disposed of earlier this year.
Dorrigo depot gets a revamp
As part of planning for a new visitor centre building, staff working out of the Dorrigo Rainforest Centre will be relocated to the depot in Casuarina Street Dorrigo in 2024.
Currently, the depot is the base for 12 field-based staff, plus the storage of vehicles, tools, plant, equipment and materials required to manage around 90,000 hectares of parks in the Dorrigo area. The bottom building at the depot will be renovated to create additional office space and become the administrative centre for National Parks and Wildlife Service in Dorrigo.
Kempsey-based construction company O'Donnell & Hanlon will commence the refurbishment work in September 2023, which is expected to take around 8 months. Neighbours have been notified of the proposed works.
World Rainforest Day showcases conservation initiatives
From the lush subtropical forests of the east coast to the semi-evergreen vine thickets of the north-west slopes, and the warm, cool temperate and littoral rainforests in between – NSW rainforests are incredible living ecosystems that contain the greatest biological diversity of any environment in Australia.
World Rainforest Day was celebrated on 22 June by showcasing some of the work Saving our Species is undertaking to secure NSW rainforests for future generations.
