A scenic 10km track linking two towns has been renewed with a $1.68m upgrade.
The Cooroora Trail, between Pomona and Cooran, was officially reopened by Noosa Mayor Clare Stewart and Queensland Reconstruction Authority chief executive officer Major General (Retired) Jake Ellwood on Wednesday.
This shady trail winds through eucalypt forest and grazing land past the peaks of Mt Cooran and Mt Cooroora, in the Tuchekoi National Park.
Upgraded works included trail realignments, selective widening, resurfacing, drainage and new way-finding and interpretive signage.
Recycled asphalt was also applied to a small section of the trail susceptible to flooding to improve durability and reduce maintenance requirements.
Cr Stewart said the upgrade was the first project to come out of the Noosa Trails Masterplan and it was designed to improve town connectivity, increase the use of the trails for educational and recreational use, drive tourism and enhance their effectiveness as fire breaks throughout the bushland.
“Whether you’re a walker, cyclist or equestrian enthusiast, the Noosa Biosphere Trail network offers a great way to keep fit, engage with nature, and enjoy the beautiful landscapes and cultural heritage of the region,” she said.
“The completion of the Cooroora Trail upgrade, which includes investment works at Pioneer Park, Cooran, Cooroora Mountain Park and Stan Topper Park, Pomona, in addition to renewal of the Cooran horse yards, represents Noosa Council’s ongoing commitment to supporting our hinterland communities and local businesses.”
The project received $1.61m in funding from the Australian and Queensland Governments’ Local Economic Recovery Program, through Category D of the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, which supports projects that improve the community’s resilience and economic recovery.
Major General (Retd) Ellwood said the LER Program aimed to support projects that contribute to local and regional economic and social recovery in areas most severely impacted by the 2019 Queensland Bushfires.
“It’s great to see projects like this that serve the community and enhance the resilience of the natural environment come to fruition,” he said.
“The 2019 bushfires had a devastating effect on the bush tracks throughout the Noosa region, and to see the rebuilt Cooroora Trail reopen in all its glory is exactly what the LER Program was designed to achieve.”
Following the success of the Cooroora Trail, priority upgrades of Trail 7 (Yurol Trail) will follow later this year.
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