Improvements to trails and other visitor facilities on the Blue Tier in Tasmania’s North East have been unveiled.
The joint project by Forestry Tasmania and the Australian Government was completed through the Tasmanian Forest Tourism Initiative at a cost of $240,000.
The works included improved walking tracks and signage and installation of interpretation panels telling the story of pioneers in the district’s mining, agricultural and forestry history.
A number of new mountain bike tracks, created as part of the project, have already won plaudits from the cycling fraternity.
Forestry Tasmania’s General Manager of Corporate Relations and Tourism, Ken Jeffreys, said there was no clearer demonstration of the corporation’s focus on community-based tourism and recreational facilities.
“As a manager of multiple use forests Forestry Tasmania obviously has to perform a balancing act. We believe we’re getting the balance right.
“The Blue Tier is a formal forest reserve of more than 5000 hectares, protecting important environmental values especially cool temperate rainforest.
“In the foothills of the Tier are more reserves along with commercial forestry operations including healthy regrowth eucalypt forests.
“It’s a classic example of not only forestry and tourism happily co-existing, but actually thriving together,” Jeffreys said.
He said the project was culmination of four years’ efforts by Forestry Tasmania with local government and others to ensure Blue Tier properly fitted into the Trail of the Tin Dragon tourism route, which celebrates Chinese miners’ involvement in the development of the North East.
