Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk is well on track

Environment Minister Dean Wells and local member for Glasshouse Carolyn Male said that the Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk is on target to open by the end of 2005, with 50 percent of the 45km of track now completed.

The four-day hike through national parks and forest reserves on the Blackall Range is part of the State Government's $10 million Great Walks project that is establishing long-distance tracks at six locations across Queensland.

Environment Minister Dean Wells said the Whitsunday and Fraser Island Great Walks would open in June, while the other four - in the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast hinterlands, Wet Tropics and Mackay Highlands - would open by the end of 2005.

"The State Government has spent about $479,000 on this Great Walk so far, and a further $858,000 will be spent to finish the walk," Mr Wells said.

Mr Wells and Mrs Male visited the Baroon Pocket section of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk. to inspect progress and meet rangers and volunteers working on the track.

"Recently, QPWS purchased 'Baxter Green' for addition to Maleny Forest Reserve. The property provides access to a lovely creek and waterfall and no doubt will be an attractive feature of the walk.

"At The Narrows, crews have built a rock staircase and stone walls to harden the viewing area's surface.

"Earlier this month QPWS airlifted about seven tonnes of materials into Kondalilla National Park . This will be used to build a 50m boardwalk through a rainforest gully to protect the sensitive habitat of rare frogs from the impacts of walkers.

"Conservation Volunteers Australia participants have been helping QPWS build the track and infrastructure - a great way for young people from here and overseas to get to know the bush.

"To date, volunteers have assisted rangers in constructing walking tracks, boardwalks, bridges and lookouts.

"While working on the project, participants have gained valuable skills and training in the conservation industry.

Local Member for Glasshouse, Ms Male welcomed the creation of the great walk in the Sunshine hinterland region.

"This is great for tourism and great for the local economy," she said.

"I have been involved in this project from the beginning and I plan to see its completion."

Mr Wells said that the track through the Blackall Range will include spectacular valleys and gorges such as Obi Obi Gorge, Baxter Creek and Gheerulla Creek valleys.

The walk will offer a diverse range of walking experiences, from short day walks to three to four-day walks, ranging from easy to difficult."

For more information about the Great Walks, go to www.epa.qld.gov.au/greatwalks.

Media contact: Annastacia Palaszczuk, (07) 3225 1819 or 0419 679 354