Supporters of a proposed world-class hiking and mountain bike trail in Far North Queensland fear it will not be delivered as promised by the state government.
The Wangetti Trail was announced by Queensland's then tourism minister Kate Jones in 2018, and included a 94-kilometre eco-tourism project linking Palm Cove and Port Douglas with walking and mountain bike trails.
Since then the project has stalled and little visible work has been completed.
The Douglas Shire Council this week voted to withdraw its support for part of the project in its local government area.
Douglas Shire Mayor Michael Kerr said the council's 2019 resolution to support the trail was on the understanding it would meander through mangroves on a boardwalk ending on Port Douglas's world-famous Four Mile Beach.
"The new designated route is actually going to run along the back of a housing estate on a 1.5-metre concrete path and then through residential streets towards the beach," Cr Kerr said.
The Douglas Shire Council now wants to renegotiate with the Queensland government on a better route for the northern section of the trail.
'No shovels in the ground'
One of the trail's original proponents, Denis Donaghy, said he was disappointed no meaningful work had been completed nearly two years after a contract to build the southern section was awarded.
"I just wish that they would build it and build it in the style that it was proposed."
Cairns Regional Councillor Brett Olds, whose division includes the southern starting point of the Wangetti Trail, said he too had concerns about the future of the project.
"I'm 100 per cent supportive of the trail with the caveat that it's what they [the Queensland government] promised," Cr Olds said.
"That it's as iconic as it possibly can be and that it's something that everyone around the world is going to want to either walk and hike or ride their mountain bike on.
Cr Olds said his concerns were compounded by ongoing delays.
"We were supposed to be done by March this year but there have been no shovels in the ground," he said.
"I'm nervous because the state hasn't done one thing, not one promise they've said on this Wangetti Trail has been delivered to date."
Government says plans not finalised
Barron River MP Craig Crawford said the Douglas Shire's withdrawal of support for the trail would not affect the state government's resolve to complete the project.
"We will still need to have a dialogue with the Douglas Shire Council, we want them on side, we want them on board to be able make sure we can deliver this product," Mr Crawford said.
