After six months of safety-related closures, Launceston’s Cataract Walk and Trevallyn Steps trails have reopened to the public.
The closure began in July 2023 due to the failure of a privately-owned retaining wall built on steep terrain above the 1 km-long Cataract Walk track.
Initially, the council anticipated a quick fix, however the timeline was extended considerably as over 1,500 tonnes of bluestone and wall material needed to be removed from the area.
City of Launceston Mayor Matthew Garwood said work to reopen the two tracks had been technically complex, given the difficult terrain.
“The City of Launceston has taken a really proactive to such a difficult issue and has prioritised these works given the importance of the Cataract Gorge to locals and visitors,” he said.
“While the substantive repair works have been underway, we’ve also been undertaking other improvement works at the western end of the Cataract Walk, including new surfaces and handrails in some sections.”
Although minor works will continue over the coming weeks, they will not require further track closures.
“We sincerely thank the residents of Launceston for their patience and support while we’ve carried out the works to reopen these important accesses to the Cataract Gorge.”
