The centrepiece of proposed upgrades to Dorrigo National Park is a brand-new Arc Rainforest Centre, which will feature a spectacular elevated walkway and lookout to offer accessible and exceptional experiences for visitors.
The visitor centre will offer a place for people to learn and connect with the culture of the traditional custodians, the Gumbaynggirr People, and a new way to experience the ancient plants and animals from which life on Earth evolved.
The Dorrigo Arc Rainforest Centre will be a unique starting point for the stunning new 46-km multi-day walk along the rugged escarpment within Dorrigo and Bindarri national parks, including hiker camps, pedestrian bridges and lookouts.
The Arc Rainforest Centre and the new multi-day walk proposals balance conserving the parks’ significant values with future visitation demands, by creating inspiring visitor experiences that connect people with nature and culture in a sustainable way.
Public exhibition of the draft master plans
The Dorrigo Escarpment Great Walk project proposes 2 main components which are described in these documents:
The draft master plans were on public exhibition from 13 October 2023 to 15 January 2024 at the same time as new Dorrigo National Park, Bindarri National Park and Bindarri State Conservation Area draft plans of management. Public consultation provided an important opportunity for the community to have a say on the new visitor facility proposals and to help refine the concept designs in advance of the detailed design and final approval stages.
What we heard
This report provides a summary of the community feedback received during public exhibition and outlines how the feedback has been considered.
Over 1,000 copies of the draft master plans were downloaded from the webpage during the exhibition period, resulting in 167 submissions and survey responses. The combined feedback showed there was strong support for the multi-day walk and broad support for the Arc Rainforest Centre concept designs. Respondents were enthusiastic about improved disability access and enhanced Aboriginal cultural experiences. The main concerns raised in the feedback were about the scale of the new visitor centre and the environmental impacts of the proposals. Beyond the concept designs, some respondents raised concerns about impacts of increasing visitation on local infrastructure and some indicated a preference for funds to be spent on conservation action.
NPWS has responded to the key themes raised in the report. The master plans may be adjusted in response to issues raised during the exhibition, environmental and cultural assessment outcomes and local design issues, and must still meet the requirements of the adopted plan of management for the parks.
NPWS will continue to engage with Aboriginal groups, key stakeholders and local communities to help realise the range of environmental, social and economic benefits of the project.
Next steps
The next opportunity to provide feedback is the public exhibition of the review of environmental factors – the environmental assessment for activities proposed on land reserved under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974. The review aims to determine the overall impact of the project and to ensure that the proposals do not have impacts that will affect the integrity of the parks' conservation objectives.
Funding and timeframe
The NSW Government announced this $56.4 million project in June 2022. The project is due for completion in 2027. We will continue to provide updates as the project progresses.
Why we are doing this and who benefits
The video below is a compelling explanation of the significance of this project. As Andrew Turbill explains, our overarching ambition is to improve and expand the opportunities we offer for people to experience nature in ways that are positive and meaningful to them.
At Dorrigo National Park, we want to attract more visitors, entice them to stay longer, learn, connect, and, ultimately, care more.
