A popular Launceston track in the Cataract Gorge has undergone a $130,000 upgrade, with ageing timber steps replaced and bluestone stair landings refurbished.
The Duck Reach Track between the Duck Reach Power Station and Trevallyn Reserve has been given a new lease on life thanks to the upgrades, which included the installation of new steps using a helicopter due to the area’s tricky terrain.
Mayor Matthew Garwood said the upgrades were necessary as the previous steps were more than 30-years-old and had reached the end of their useful life.
“Without the steps we’d be relying on ropes and hardhats,” he said.
“The new steps will last us another three decades or so and will help maintain that access from Trevallyn Reserve into the historic Duck Reach Power Station.”
He said the trail was popular in its own right, but also linked into a wider loop connecting to the First Basin on both sides of the South Esk River.
City of Launceston Recreation and Parks Project Officer Davy Van Rooyen said the track upgrade had been a rewarding project to work on.
“This track feeds into a wider network of walking tracks throughout the Trevallyn and Cataract Gorge Reserves and they are a really special part of our municipality,” he said.
“You can feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by nature, but you might only be a kilometre from the city.”
“It’s great to see the upgrade complete ahead of summer and I hope the track will get a lot of use once the weather starts to warm up.”
