Dorrigo Escarpment Great Walk: project update 6

Thank you for your input

Public exhibition of the draft plan of management and master plans

Submissions closed on 15 January 2024 for this key consultation opportunity. There was a high level of interest in the draft plan of management for Dorrigo and Bindarri national parks, and the draft master plans for the Dorrigo Arc Rainforest Centre and the Dorrigo Escarpment Great Walk.

A big thank you to all those who completed the feedback survey or sent in your comments for consideration. We really appreciate the effort you put in to let us know what you think of the proposals and how the concept plans could be improved.

The draft plan of management for Dorrigo and Bindarri national parks and Bindarri State Conservation Area received 143 submissions. These submissions, and proposed changes to the draft plan of management in response to the comments from the community, have been considered by the regional and statewide NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service community advisory groups. The minister will consider the submissions and the committees’ advice before a decision on adoption of the plan.

The draft master plans for the proposed Dorrigo Escarpment Great Walk and the Dorrigo Arc Rainforest Centre received 54 email submissions and 87 survey responses. Comments are being carefully considered to finalise the master plans and a summary of submissions will be shared.

Aboriginal cultural heritage surveys

The initial round of Aboriginal cultural heritage assessment surveys finished with a final field trip in warm and stormy conditions at Bindarri National Park in late February 2024. The day on Country was a great opportunity to review the survey findings to date and look ahead to future opportunities to work together on the Dorrigo Escarpment Great Walk project.

The aim of the assessment is to ensure, through community consultation and archaeological survey, that the Aboriginal cultural values or objects within the project area are identified and protected. EcoLogical Australia Senior Heritage Advisor and Archaeologist, Jennifer Norfolk, is leading the assessment process.

Cultural heritage surveys with registered Aboriginal parties included:

• 40 km of track surveyed over 10 field trips
• 300 hours of work by 15 Aboriginal sites officers from 5 organisations
• over 200 hours of work by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and EcoLogical Australia staff.

The Aboriginal cultural heritage assessment report forms part of the review of environmental factors which will be available for public comment after referral to the relevant Commonwealth and NSW heritage agencies.

Behind the scenery

Never Never picnic shelter

Everyone’s favourite historic picnic shelter in Dorrigo National Park will be restored to its former glory in time for its 50th birthday next year. Conservation works to commence shortly include repairing the concrete slab and gable-roofed timber pole structure, and replacing the shingle roof and picnic furniture.

Local Dorrigo contractor Jack Buchanan and his team have supplied the thousands of wooden shingles (or shakes) for the roof, using blackbutt from an old timber plantation within Bongil Bongil National Park, that was thinned for forest rehabilitation.

Prior to the restoration work, local arborist contractors Valley Tree Services removed high risk trees to make the area safer for the works and for future visitors. Five trees directly around the picnic shelter were removed to reinstate the original open feel of the picnic area in line with the heritage report recommendations. This will also increase sun penetration, helping to reduce damp and preserve the renovated picnic shelter in the long term. None of the trees removed were of hollow-bearing stage.

Not all the trees identified for removal were removed, with strategic de-limbing sufficient to make some of the trees safe. This includes a large blackbutt which the Dorrigo Aboriginal Land Council asked to be retained during consultation. Some logs have been left on site for future use in the picnic shelter refurbishment or other projects within the park.

Dome Road bridge upgrading

The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service is upgrading 4 timber culvert-style bridges on Dome Road within Dorrigo National Park. The bridges were thought to have been constructed in the early 1950s and have been assessed by a civil engineer as being close to the end of their structural life. The bridges provide key access to the Never Never (Baliiga) picnic area for recreational use as well as emergency and park management access.

The old structures have local heritage value due to their in situ construction from available materials which demonstrates creative solutions in remote settings. The forest bridges and culverts also have a rustic visual appeal accentuated by their rainforest setting.

The design approach for replacing the timber bridges retains these heritage values by placing new pre-cast concrete decks across the top of the old bridge with separate supports. Capturing a photographic record of the bridges will also help to preserve these historic heritage values.

Local Dorrigo contractors Cuthel Earthmoving and Transport have installed 2 of the new bridges and will complete the job after the autumn school holidays. Dome Road is closed to cars and walkers during bridge works so please check the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service alerts page before you visit the Never Never picnic area or use the Blackbutt Track.

Dorrigo Depot field office upgrade completed

The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Dorrigo Depot in Casuarina Street, Dorrigo, has had an upgrade with field staff moving to the renovated ‘top shed’ to make room for more office space on the site.

Kempsey-based construction company O'Donnell & Hanlon recently completed the refurbishment work to the field office, which included a new office area, kitchen and amenities, doors and windows, insulation and cladding, gutters and downpipes, electrical, data and air conditioning, security and upgrades to the water and electrical supply to the site.

The renovation works ensure that the Dorrigo Field depot provides a functional facility for field staff to operate from for years to come. Work continues on the new office space to accommodate rangers and other staff at the Casuarina Street site, due for completion in May 2024.

Koala habitat restoration in Bindarri National Park

In September last year we first reported on a large restoration project in Bindarri National Park, returning pasture to koala habitat as part of the NSW Koala Strategy. The main clearings were planted last year with 51 different tree and shrub species to support a diversity of flora and fauna species, not just koalas. Despite the challenges of elevation, poor drainage and thick exotic grass growth, the boost from 530 mm of rain in the first 3 weeks of January this year has seen most of the 6,700 trees kick on, with some now over 2 m tall.

The success of the project can be attributed to the detailed planning and close working relationship between the ranger Martin Smith and other NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Coffs Coast area staff, Tim Scanlon from the koala team, and the principal contractor Justin Couper from EcoLinx. With an additional 1,600 trees planted this season, it won’t be long before they’re supporting koalas.

View the project video on the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Facebook page.

Crystal Shower Falls walk once again open for the holidays

The popular Crystal Shower Falls walk will reopen for the autumn school holidays. This provides a 3.6 km return walk to the falls from The Glade picnic area and also allows visitors to complete the 6.6 km Wonga Walk circuit. Contractors may be present on the track during the holidays to complete minor patching works which shouldn’t cause any delays to walkers.

Partial closures will be re-introduced after the school holidays until July 2024 to complete the renewal and resealing of the track. Crystal Shower Falls remains accessible via the lower Wonga Walk (7.8 km).

For further information check the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service alerts page or contact Dorrigo Rainforest Centre on 02 6657 5913.