QLD Wangetti Trail (FNQ)
- Thread starter indica
- Start date
Flow-Rider
Burner
The Green groups are pushing back against mountain biking across Qld, I bet that's why it was watered down to the likening of walking trail. This is why I said that the well known video from NZ of trailbuilders blowing up forest was nothing but bad news to the industry.
"Mountain biking
Overall, mountain biking is incompatible with the purpose of national park and World Heritage areas. Mountain biking and walkers are generally incompatible. If any cycling is considered further, it should be limited to leisure cycling and explicitly exclude mountain biking.
Gradients of above 6+% are likely to result in increased speed of cyclists. Gradients of up to 15% (although short), combined with a 1.5m wide trail, will likely encourage thrill-seeking speed and therefore negative interactions with both walkers and wildlife."
"Mountain biking should be removed from the proposal as it is contrary to the purpose of national parks and will have negative impacts on intrinsic World Heritage values and would undermine the experience of walkers and other low impact users. There are many other mountain biking opportunities in the region."
[EDIT]
Alternatives to the proposal
The referral indicates there are no alternatives to the proposal. NPAQ disputes this. The region is already well represented by mountain biking tracks, which the Outdoor Queensland (formerly QORF) has stated is in need of maintenance funding. One alternative to be considered is restricting the proposal to a lower costing and impact walking track only and investing funds into the maintenance of existing off-park mountain biking tracks. This would then truly be a “great coastal walk”.
https://npaq.org.au/current-issues/wangetti-trail-proposal/
"Mountain biking
Overall, mountain biking is incompatible with the purpose of national park and World Heritage areas. Mountain biking and walkers are generally incompatible. If any cycling is considered further, it should be limited to leisure cycling and explicitly exclude mountain biking.
Gradients of above 6+% are likely to result in increased speed of cyclists. Gradients of up to 15% (although short), combined with a 1.5m wide trail, will likely encourage thrill-seeking speed and therefore negative interactions with both walkers and wildlife."
"Mountain biking should be removed from the proposal as it is contrary to the purpose of national parks and will have negative impacts on intrinsic World Heritage values and would undermine the experience of walkers and other low impact users. There are many other mountain biking opportunities in the region."
[EDIT]
Alternatives to the proposal
The referral indicates there are no alternatives to the proposal. NPAQ disputes this. The region is already well represented by mountain biking tracks, which the Outdoor Queensland (formerly QORF) has stated is in need of maintenance funding. One alternative to be considered is restricting the proposal to a lower costing and impact walking track only and investing funds into the maintenance of existing off-park mountain biking tracks. This would then truly be a “great coastal walk”.
https://npaq.org.au/current-issues/wangetti-trail-proposal/
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Flow-Rider
Burner
What gets me is that they think walkers do less damage to the environment, it's not my observation from the Brisbane area. They trample the ground walking off trails exploring, leave their empty water bottles, shit paper and KFC packaging all over the place.
Ackland
chats d'élevage
The myths about MTB use and environmental outcomes have been debunked for many years but the attitudes of walking groups and conservationists haven't changed despite the weight of evidence.
I come across the same arguments every day.
I'm about to embark on detailed design/construct of ~70km of trail in decent bushland within a National Park and currently working on an engagement strategy to change the narrative because reasoning hasn't worked to date.
If that doesn't work, I've at least (currently) got a supportive Minister who will likely make some strategic decisions for me.
Flow-Rider
Burner
I converse with some green groups here and throw the old offroad impacts study in their face but most of them are pretty much straight down the line and don't want to budge. The supporters of these groups don't realise that they'll eventually get thrown out of their own parks.
https://www.imba-europe.org/sites/d...hyFKXZA-j7pusi8z5ODsTjcgG36T4XCtJqG7vSiTCy9Fw
HamboCairns
Thanks for all the bananas
I generally take no notice of John Mackenzie but he really does sound deflated in these interviews.
Wangetti Trail fiasco not over
Today I spoke to Phil Cassell, an independent advocate, about the disappointing decision by the State Government to overlook the locally based company World Trail for a southern-based company to build the Wangetti Trail.audioboom.com
FNQ company loses out
Today I spoke to Glen Jacobs, the director of World Trail, about the State Government's decision to bypass the company and choose a Brisbane company to build the Wangetti Trail.
I hope they do challenge the outcome and the tender criteria. It can't be in the best interests of the environment or the traditional owners to have a half arsed trail built. I can't see anyone coming to Cairns to walk to Port Douglas, mountain biking/bike packing though, definitely!
Flow-Rider
Burner
It looks like they plan on people staying at the eco lodges positioned across the main trail in various sections. I'd be surprised if most people walked the whole trail, most likely e-bike tours.
It would be interesting to see how many southerners would cope with the climate up there over the summer months.
I hope they don't totally mess it up because it will be a missed opportunity for people to see some spectacular views along the ocean line. It will piss a lot of people off if bookings get cancelled because the trail washed away during the summer rains.
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HamboCairns
Thanks for all the bananas
Ok so it seems that World Trails met a budget that was given in the tender and they will indeed ask for feedback.
My guess is that the specs have been changed and so it favours a company like Wagner which is just as bad. There will be a handful of people that will want to walk 32km on a boardwalk, there would be hundreds that would want to experience bike packing on a world class rainforest trail.
Fred Nurk
No custom title here
One of the potential factors given the budget and that its a publicly funded tender is whether they have management systems, including Quality, Safety and Environmental. If such things are either highly weighted or mandatory, and World Trail doesn't have them, it can make it quite difficult to succeed as a tenderer. The summary piece posted by Ackland is accurate, and another factor in the experience of civil construction companies in government tenders.
The other factor unrelated to that is that Wagners CFT are specialists in composite bridges and walkways, which doesn't bode well for anything other than a boring hiking track.
The other factor unrelated to that is that Wagners CFT are specialists in composite bridges and walkways, which doesn't bode well for anything other than a boring hiking track.
HamboCairns
Thanks for all the bananas
You'd think the same criteria applied for the Blue Derby trail in Tasmania and Victoria's Warburton trail which were funded by different levels of Government and both awarded to World Trails.
Flow-Rider
Burner
They've built trails all up and down the east coast of Australia and it's not their first rodeo in Cairns either, sounds a bit odd to me.
HamboCairns
Thanks for all the bananas
Yup, something definitely not right.
indica
Serial flasher
State Government asked to go back to the drawing board over Wangetti Trail
Douglas Shire Council has revoked its pledge to take ownership of the northern-most section of the trail.
Flow-Rider
Burner
I thought it would end like this, with blown out costs everywhere. Well, now it's even worse with the shortage of building materials.
Fred Nurk
No custom title here
If I understand the Douglas council's perspective correctly they're entirely justified with the response, based on being saddled with an asset with much greater than predicted maintenance costs and an obligation to maintain it.State Government asked to go back to the drawing board over Wangetti Trail
Douglas Shire Council has revoked its pledge to take ownership of the northern-most section of the trail.www.tropicnow.com.au
What a fucking shitshow.