Impression of the new Southern Terminus
The Bibbulmun Track Foundation (BTF) is very pleased that the $150 million investment package to support WA’s tourism sector includes money for trail development and upgrades - including $1 million for the Bibbulmun Track.
These works are to ensure the Track can meet increasing demand and continue to provide a quality hiking experience for the next 20 years.
The BTF has worked with DBCA to develop a program to upgrade up to ten campsites including the extension of shelters and installation of additional tent sites to increase capacity.
A new satellite campsite to cater for groups will be built close to Monadnocks Campsite in the Darling Range and additional water tanks will be installed along the length of the Track.
An additional $100K has been allocated to relocate the southern terminus of both the Bibbulmun and Munda Biddi Trails next to the Albany visitor centre in the main street. This will greatly improve the experience for end-to-enders in particular – and increase visibility of the trails within the town. The plans and artists impression can be viewed here.
The stimulus funding will create short-term jobs in construction and support longer-term jobs in tourism. Track walkers account for over $13 million in annual direct expenditure. Much of that is in regional towns that are “off the beaten track” such as Collie, Balingup, Northcliffe and Walpole.
Additionally, there are numerous small businesses that offer packaged guided walks, tours and events on the Track. You can find a list of them here.
Bookings closed soon for the September departure of the Hightlights tour.
The 8 day itinerary, which departs on 14th September 2020, has been carefully compiled to combine a variety of day walks with off-Track accommodation.
If you want to join us on this tour and experience the very best sections of the Bibbulmun Track in the height of the magnificent West Australian Wildflower season, do not delay.
For more information and a full dossier click here.
The Great Southern Centre for Outdoor Recreation Excellence (GSCORE) are thrilled about the announcement by the McGowan Government of funding for trails and outdoor recreation in the Great Southern. Below is their media release with the details.
Today the McGowan Government unveiled a $57.7 million package for the Great Southern as part of the WA Recovery Plan, firmly placing trails and outdoor recreation in focus for future development.
The Great Southern Centre for Outdoor Recreational Excellence (GSCORE) is thrilled with today’s announcement of this funding commitment towards getting more people active outdoors.
“The nominated work and upgrades will go a long way to encouraging even more people to get outdoors in the Great Southern and take advantage of the amazing environment we have,” says GSCORE Executive Director Dr Lenore Lyons. “This also means more choices for people of all ages to be out in nature walking, hiking, cycling, exploring and generally being active.
“These projects will create short terms jobs in trail development and long term jobs in tourism. The better facilities we create, the better opportunities we have to attract visitors to the Great Southern and that can only help our economic recovery. We are delighted to see funding directed to several projects identified in the Great Southern Regional Trails Master Plan.”
The tourism and infrastructure investment in the package specifically related to trails and outdoor recreation are:
$12.78 million: Establish trail towns and centres to service existing and new trails in the Great Southern region including the realignment of Munda Biddi Trail through William Bay National Park to Denmark, new trails in the Valley of the Giants to Walpole, new and upgraded trails in Torndirrup National Park and new and upgraded trails at Castle Rock in the Porongurup National Park.
$2.24 million: Renew walk and cycle trails to encourage people to visit parks in the Great Southern region, including existing trails in the Torndirrup, Porongurup, Walpole-Nornalup and Mount Frankland national parks.
$1.19 million: Upgrades on the Bibbulmun Track and Munda Biddi Trail including renewing camp sites, bridges and sections of the track.
$1.56 million: New and upgraded visitor facilities in national parks across the Great Southern region, including resealing Coalmine Beach Road in the Walpole-Nornalup National Park, an overflow car park at the Granite Skywalk at Castle Rock in the Porongurup National Park, and a new toilet at Ledge Beach in Gull Rock National Park.
This is supported by further funding towards work on the Middleton Beach foreshore, Albany Waterfront Marina, investment in existing and emerging Great Southern industries and funding for roads and road safety.
“At GSCORE we’re looking forward to working with our regional partners to help make these projects a success. Working together we can take further steps towards creating greater economic and tourism opportunities for the Great Southern in trails and outdoor recreation.”
Last Friday the 31st of July marked the final day of tourism trading for the Denmark Visitor Centre. The Visitor Centre had been around for over 50 years and in that time grew to play an important role in Tourism for the region. With a very knowledgeable staff and volunteer base supporting the centre, they did the hard work producing a fantastic regional website, promoting local attractions and services, as well as supporting Bibbulmun Track walkers, holding parcels, giving out information and taking care of the Bibbulmun Track Log Book.
The Denmark Co-Operative has kindly agreed to take over the Log Book and the visiting walkers that come with it, and we also are delighted to be able to welcome them as a Walker Friendly Business Member [hyper link to sign up]. The Co-op is on the corner of South Coast Hwy and Strickland Street in the centre of Denmark. They are open 7 days a week. Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm, Saturday 8am to 4pm and Sunday 9.30am to 12.30pm.
Denmark Co-Operative
An innovative and collaborative new community-based tourism model is in the works for the future, which we should know more about in the upcoming months as things progress. Please note that visitor services have not ground to a halt due to the closure, information can still be found on the Denmark Tourism Website, and you can still call and talk to someone if you have questions about the area or accommodation and service enquiries. Their contact number is: 08 9848 2055.
Check out our Track Town page for all the latest information on Denmark here.
We’re excited to welcome members of Ultra Series WA as our newest Track maintenance team. The trail running organisation will coordinate a group to regularly check and tend the Track between Nut Road lookout and the Conspicuous Beach carpark, just west of Peaceful Bay.
Volunteer Manager Helen Grimm with Melanee Maisey and Shaun Kaesler from Ultra Series WA
Shaun Kaesler, Event Organiser for Ultra Series WA is enthusiastic about the opportunity to ‘give back’ to the Track.
If we are given the trust and ability to show off this beautiful track to adventure lovers from all over the world with the events we host, why wouldn’t we jump at the opportunity to give back. This trail survives by a myriad of volunteers, and the time is now for our running community to become some of those volunteers too. What a wonderful opportunity to have been offered and we look forward to giving back for many, many years to come.
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