In July this year we received a briefing from Marty McLaughlin, Operations Manager with QPWS at Pallarenda, on plans to extend walking tracks on the Town Common and do other work to facilitate access and recreational use of the Common. Those who came on our field trip that month will recall that Marty came with us on our walk up Many Peaks. 

Marty has been good enough to update us with latest news (and map) on the proposed works and the following information is transcribed from his email.

Please note also that the road within the Common will be closed for 2 weeks from 5 November to allow work to reduce the impacts of flooding on the road. The gate at the entrance to the Common (adjacent to the golf club) will be locked during this time but walk-in access will still be available from the Pallarenda end. Marty writes as follows:

[National Parks] have secured funding ($140k) to develop a shared trail loop around Freshwater Lagoon on the Common.  This will involve three sections:

• stabilising the bund wall and placing a gravel path along the top from Freshwater Lagoon car park to Bald Rock;
• gravelling the existing alignment from Freshwater Lagoon car park to Jacana Birdhide; and
• establishing a new path close to the wetlands edge from Jacana to the base of Many Peaks.

This will then tie into the Lagoon Trail which we have done up this year as a shared trail.  This will then create an 8km loop around the lagoon – close to a 10km loop if you come in from Pallarenda.

This is aimed at the more family friendly walking / riding activity.  It will also provide better opportunities for the birders/naturalists to view more of the wetland.  The bit I’m excited about is being able to walk out to Bald Rock during the wet season when the area is all covered in water. The plan is to have this complete by June 30 next year.

The attached map (click on image to enlarge) helps with some context but doesn’t identify the final location of this work as we need to do further assessments and planning to finalise.