Works have now commenced on a 650m-long boardwalk in the Daintree National Park in Far North Queensland. The $4.5 million upgrade will ensure that the world-class rainforest can be enjoyed by all abilities.
The Queensland Government has started work on a $4.5 million Jindalba Boardwalk upgrade in the Daintree National Park, which will provide greater accessibility to the iconic rainforest. The Jindalba Boardwalk is a short trail through the rainforest at the foothills of Mount Alexandra in the Cape Tribulation section of the Daintree.
The Daintree Rainforest is UNESCO World Heritage Listed for its exceptional natural beauty and biodiversity. The new boardwalk is designed to blend in more seamlessly with its natural environment and allow visitors to immerse themselves in the lush rainforest at Jindalba.
Some of the improvements coming to the boardwalk include using eco-friendly materials (such as responsibly sourced timber handrails) and improved access and signage for all abilities, including upgraded sections of the track that will provide more inclusive access. There will also be trail and shelter improvements, such as the addition of a new shelter with safety information.
The project has received consultation from the Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation, who have played a crucial role in overseeing the project, and Eastern Kuku Yalanji community members will be employed to work on the upgrade.
‘Boardwalks like this are the kind of eco-tourism infrastructure that everyone can support,’ says Queensland Conservation Council Protected Areas Campaigner Nicky Moffat.
‘[Boardwalks] serve important ecological functions, by minimising impacts on vegetation. Tens of thousands of visitors’ footsteps can impact on the shallow root structures of rainforest species.’
The upgrade will address the needs of 52,000 visitors to Jindalba Day Use Area every year, and will support a push to grow eco-tourism in Queensland with a recent report from the Queensland Audit Office. The upgrade will also help future-proof the boardwalk from further maintenance.
Feature photo by Steven Nowakowski
