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FAR NORTH QUEENSLAND

Wet Tropics World Heritage Area

Development project: Wangetti Trail
Image credit: Steven Nowakowski.
The Wet Tropics World Heritage Area (WTWHA) is a stunningly beautiful natural area with rainforested ranges, waterfalls, rivers and alluring coastline. More importantly, it contains one of the world’s most  irreplaceable areas of primitive plant species, combined with huge biodiversity. The importance of the WTWHA’s natural and cultural values are described in great detail in numerous scientific journals and studies, as well as being comprehensively documented in the Wet Tropics submission and subsequent World Heritage Area listing. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature recognises it as the second most irreplaceable protected area in the world, and one of the most treasured World Heritage sites.

THE DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL IN BRIEF:

- The construction of 94 kilometres of dual-access mountain bike and walking track through the World Heritage-listed Macalister Range National Park, starting at the Palm Cove jetty and ending at the Port Douglas waterfront. It is proposed to be built in three stages, with the first stage (six kilometres) opened in September 2024.
-  Five separate accommodation areas leased to private parties, four of them on national park land within the World Heritage Area. A combination of campgrounds and ‘premium’ upmarket structures is proposed, with the exact mix to be negotiated.
-  Ground leases on national park land for up to 30 years for eco-accommodation development, as well as the option to operate the private eco-accommodation for up to 30 years.
-  Unidentified public/private partnerships with the purpose of “allowing private operators to leverage off and invest in new ecologically-sustainable, state-sponsored tourism offerings”. Large, internationally-based operators welcomed.

THE DEVELOPER:

Queensland State Government: Department of Tourism and Sport (present)
Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation  (DETSI)
Image credit:  Steven Nowakowski.
Background

The Queensland Nature Conservation Act was substantially changed during the Newman NLP Government’s 2012–2014 term.  The ‘cardinal  principle’ governing parks management was changed from conservation to recreation, and clauses added that included allowing the building of resorts inside national parks with private partners. Despite its election promises, the subsequent Palaszczuk Government only revoked the “recreation” part of the alterations, leaving parks open to resort development. The conservation movement has repeatedly (and unsuccessfully) asked for the Newman amendments to be repealed in full. 

Despite strong lobbying, the clause including ‘ecotourism facilities’ remains, and forms the basis for the long-term leases, private commercial facilities and activities that have since been allowed within Queensland’s national parks.   Unfortunately, there is bipartisan support for this brand of high-end ecotourism.

In 2016 the Queensland Labor Government launched its Queensland Ecotourism Plan, which specifically endorsed new partnerships with the tourism industry. The “EcoTrails” program (later renamed “Ecotourism Trails’) arose soon after.  

The Cairns region became part of the new ecotourism policy in 2018 when the Queensland Government released a tender inviting interested parties to “register their interest to develop and operate eco-accommodation and tour guidance in Tropical North Queensland” as part of the Wangetti Trail proposal.

The LNP Crisafulli Government elected in 2024 has carried on with the project.

The three stages of construction for the project (and the time line for them) are vague. The entire project is contentious as it is within a World Heritage Area. The dual-access nature of the trail is also contentious, with the use of mountain bikes and e-bikes particularly controversial due to concerns about safety and suitability.


Queensland State Government consultation map.  More questions than information.  
Problems with the development


The Wangetti Trail project is a huge undertaking. It entails putting in a 94 kilometre long walking and cycling track through difficult, mountainous, rocky terrain with extreme climatic conditions, largely within the world-acclaimed Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. 

Accelerated risks from climate change are now expected, as was  demonstrated in December 2023 by Cyclone Jasper and associated extreme flooding. When these risks are added to the normal annual risks from cyclones, extreme humidity and rainfall events, the feasibility of the project is extremely tenuous on social, economic and environmental grounds.  

This complex, difficult project has not been thoroughly planned and requires a comprehensive review, as indicated by the first six kilometre section from Palm Cove to Ellis Beach. This section was built in 2024, then washed out and closed for three months from January to April 2025.

An incomplete list of the development’s problematic elements:
  • There has been very poor consultation with the public and knowledgeable experts. Discussions were limited to favourable groups, with sales pitches given to small community bodies. An example: the WTWHA and Great Barrier Reef Marine Park were not even labelled on the public consultation maps on-line.  
  • The Wet Tropics Management Agency (WTMA) didn’t provide any public consultation, despite having to issue a permit to construct the trail and pass a board resolution on one of the biggest projects proposed in the WTWHA. The permit was issued before Environment Australia even considered the proposal under the EPBC Act, with the permit issued to the State Government via the Department of Sport and Tourism. This raises questions: is the WTMA answerable to the public?  What is its role? Does it have sufficient information to issue a permit for such a huge project?
  • The dual-direction, dual-purpose track is controversial and needs a specific, careful risk analysis. Walkers and cyclists now face additional risk from increased use of heavy, hard to control e-bikes. Walking a windy track shared with mountain bikes and e-bikes will not appeal to many. Was walking included to satisfy WHA criterion which wouldn’t allow a single-use mountain bike trail?
  • Proposed trail use is high, with one government release quoting 29,000 users per annum, without any planned closures. But many closures will be necessary to protect users’ health and safety during the hot, humid season, as well as to maintain the integrity of the trail during monsoon rain periods from December to March.
  • Emergency helicopter access will be required, causing big disruption and impacts in a WHA.  
  • Extreme weather events were not properly factored into the feasibility assessment.  Cyclones and floods will cause long closures that will undoubtedly affect the Trail’s viability, and infrastructure can be completely destroyed (as with cyclones Yasi and Debbie). This will blow out insurance costs for any infrastructure.    The total budget is destined to  blow out from the $46 million or so spoken of years ago to something substantially higher.   
  • Climate change effects haven’t been sufficiently factored in, increasing concerns about the project’s viability in the short and long term. The assumption is that climate risks are being intentionally left out.

Image credit: Steven Nowakowski.

Current status

Stage 1 of the trail (covering about six kilometres north from the Palm cove end) was opened on 25 September 2024, some six years after the initial announcement. This was washed out and closed for three months from January to April 2025. Social media comments were not favourable.   

Consultation is still lacking and it’s clear that the desktop planning of future stages is not going to translate well on the ground. Cyclone Jasper and record flooding have caused numerous landslides and severe creek-scouring along the proposed route. The trail alignment has already been moved outside the proposed building envelope approved by the Wet Tropics Management Agency. It will take more years of serious planning and tens of millions of dollars before the trail can progress to Wangetti township. 

In the face of Cyclone Jasper and recent flooding that caused more than $1 billion damage along the coast, including major impacts on the Cook Highway and Kuranda Range Road, the project needs to be completely reconsidered.  Public resources must be directed towards mitigating damage and protecting biodiversity rather than degrading a precious public asset like the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area in the name of tourism. 
Further information

You can learn more about the Wangetti Trail here:
How you can help

- Write to your Queensland and federal members of parliament, Environment Australia, and your regional conservation bodies and post on social media.


Macalister Range National Park, WHA looking south. Trail alignment on the eastern side.  Image credit: Steven Nowakowski

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