The Liberal Government continues to support the West Coast with projects and training proposed by the Government and community-led working group which is helping to reinvigorate and diversify the region’s economy.

The Hodgman Liberal Government committed $2.47 million to a West Coast rescue package following the closure of the Mt Lyell mine last year.

The West Coast Working Group was established and a series of short-term job stimulus projects were identified in addition to longer-term strategies to transition the region’s economy alongside traditional mining operations.

Today 80 West Coast residents, including 68 displaced CMT workers, graduated in Certificate III in mining. This is in addition to seven people completing a Certificate II in Public Safety (Forest Fire Fighting).
These training programs were provided by the Government from the $250,000 skills and training commitment in the Building and Stronger West Coast election package.

Mentoring and support programs for local businesses and contractors have also been completed in the past six months along with a Tourism Development Program attended by 22 local tourism operators at a cost of $30,000.

Part of the long-term tourism strategy was $1.65 million towards mountain bike and walking tracks which will improve the region’s tourism appeal while also creating jobs.

Some projects that are well underway include the Horsetail Falls Waterfall Walk, the Montezuma Falls Trail and the North East Dundas Rail Trail.

To date about 3500 hours of work has been completed with labour organised by Queenstown company WBF Pty Ltd. The company will engage up to 30 unemployed mine workers for new tracks due to start in coming weeks.

HORSETAIL FALLS:

Work is underway and when complete visitors to the West Coast will be able to walk to the 40 metre high Horsetail Falls Waterfall on Moore Creek between Gormanston and Queenstown.
This is a $435,000 project managed by the Parks and Wildlife Service with labour supplied by WBF Pty Ltd.

The track will provide a new 1.8 km return day walk and access to the spectacular falls which can be seen from the Lyell Highway. The gravel and elevated track will feature a cantilevered lookout at the top of the falls. Preliminary site works, including car park improvements, have been completed and track construction is expected to begin late this month.

MONTEZUMA FALLS/NORTH EAST DUNDAS RAIL TRAIL:

The Parks and Wildlife Service has also taken the lead in the $1.21 West Coast Mountain Bike project and significant progress has been made on the Montezuma Falls Trail and the North East Dundas Rail Trail linking Melba Flats to Zeehan.

Works to upgrade the Montezuma Falls track are 90 per cent complete, with fords improved, 4.5 km of track cleared of windfalls, rock falls and dangerous trees and the track surface and drainage improved for safe use by mountain bikes.

Work is also well under way on the 7.5 km North East Dundas Rail Trail. Vegetation clearing has been completed and work over coming weeks will focus on making the former rail line track suitable for mountain bikes.

With other trail improvements planned around Zeehan, the town is well placed to be a focal point for mountain bike trails, in part reusing old tramways and tracks from past mining and forestry activities.

The trails will showcase the unique landscapes of the region, taking riders through majestic rainforest, past spectacular waterfalls, under towering cliffs and across button grass plains.

In coming weeks work will begin on the Mt Heemskirk Track to improve the riding experience for mountain bikers along the 15 km existing gravel track. This challenging ride features scenic views of Mt Heemskirk, Mt Murchison, Mt Read and the ranges to the west of Cradle Mountain.

The Climies Track, south of Granville Harbour, will also get a new timber bridge at Granite Creek providing a safe crossing for track users.

The West Coast’s involvement in the DreamWorks Light Between The Ocean projects has been completed and created 15 jobs as was an agreement between Hydro Tasmania and a private operator for white water rafting on the King River creating 4 jobs.

Additionally, $1 million of road works on the Murchison Highway have been brought forward to improve access and safety for local businesses and tourists.

The Tasmanian Liberal Government is proudly working alongside the West Coast community to find solutions and achieve results that the community has identified and wants and we will continue to do that into the future.
Adam Brooks, Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and Trade