Wrongetti to Wangetti

The Wangetti Trail has now been escalated to the newly established Tourism Cabinet Committee to ensure a whole-of-government approach to delivering this world-class trail. Ministers working together to deliver for Queensland.

Here are some fast facts about the project:

Labor announced the Trail in 2018 as a nation-leading project, yet the first section wasn’t opened until 2024 – two years behind schedule.

It has become the most expensive footpath in Australia – with $22.5 million spent to deliver just over seven kilometres of a 94-kilometre project.

Almost half the budget has been spent on just eight per cent of the project – 7.8 kilometres

We’ve engaged with local stakeholders – people who really understand this location and the opportunities – who have raised legitimate concerns about the way Labor has mismanaged this project to date.

Taking steps to get Wangetti Trail back on track for Far North Queensland 

The 94-kilometre Trail will span from Palm Cove to Port Douglas, offering an alluring adventure on foot or by bike, through Far North Queensland’s stunning coastal and tropical scenery. 

Under Labor, the Wangetti Trail was plagued by holdups, budget blowouts and a lack of transparency that has left locals calling the current project the Wrong-getti Trail. 

The Crisafulli Government is delivering the full Wangetti Trail, understanding tourists are searching for unique, nature-based opportunities like hiking and mountain biking along some of the greatest coastline in Australia. 

To ensure the project gets back on track, the Crisafulli Government convened a stakeholder roundtable in January, discussing the project with industry experts, local government representatives and tourism leaders. 

The Trail will also be considered by the Tourism Cabinet Committee – one of the Crisafulli Government’s key 100-day commitments. 

Minister for the Environment and Tourism Andrew Powell said that while Labor bungled Stage One of the project, the Crisafulli Government would get the project back up and running. 

“The Crisafulli Government will deliver this important ecotourism project while respecting Queenslanders’ money,” Minister Powell said. 

“Labor announced the Trail in 2018 as a nation-leading project, yet the first section wasn’t opened until 2024 – two years behind schedule.  

“It has become the most expensive footpath in Australia – with $22.5 million spent to deliver just over seven kilometres of a 94-kilometre project. 

“Almost half the budget has been spent on just eight per cent of the project – 7.8 kilometres. 

“It’s clear there were serious missteps with delays in approvals, uncertainly about the trail’s purpose and a lack of consultation with locals who know the area and the market for activity-based tourism. 

“The Crisafulli Government will deliver the world class trail that Far North Queensland deserves and the world will pay to see.”  

We need to get this project back on track so that local operators and tourism businesses can harness those opportunities.

Thank your Andrew Powell MP Minister for the Environment and Tourism for standing up for FNQ.

We need to turn this project around from an epic fail to an epic trail.