NSW TREASURER Matt Kean and Minister for Environment James Griffin have announced the four-day Dorrigo Escarpment Great Walk as part of a $56.4 million investment in the NSW Budget.

The walk will allow tourists to experience ancient Gondwana Rainforests on the Coffs Coast.

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Mr Kean said the four day Dorrigo Escarpment Great Walk will increase access to one of Australia’s most beautiful rainforests and attract an extra 200,000 visitors to the region.

“Through the NSW Budget, we’re investing $56.4 million to offer a new way for people to enjoy the ancient World Heritage environment.” he said.

“This project will drive increased nature-based tourism in NSW, further bolstering the contribution that national parks make to the State economy.”

National Park management and visitation generates $18 billion in economic activity annually and supports over 74,000 jobs, with 75 percent of economic benefit occurring in regional areas.

Mr Griffin said the project is part of the largest capital investment program ever undertaken in NSW national parks.

“Along with Snowies Alpine Walk, the Wollemi Great Walk, and the Great Southern Walk, our signature multi-day walks are providing new experiences in NSW while expanding access to our national parks.

“The rainforest at Dorrigo National Park is even more spectacular than the Daintree, and I’m proud to say that with this magnificent new 46 kilometre walk, we’ll be happily tempting domestic and international tourists away from Queensland.

“I want everyone who comes to our NSW national parks as a visitor to leave as a conservationist, and this world-class Dorrigo Escarpment Great Walk helps us achieve that.”

The starting point of the Dorrigo Great Walk will be the new Arc Rainforest Centre, featuring a hanging boardwalk overlooking the World Heritage rainforest.

It will include four low impact walkers’ hut precincts, new camping areas, three suspension bridges and 46 kilometres of walking trails.

The Walk will also become a place for visitors to learn and connect with the culture of the traditional custodians, the Gumbaynggirr people.

Minister for Tourism Stuart Ayres said the new Dorrigo Escarpment Great Walk would help put NSW on the global map for tourism and national parks.

“We’re building a network of multi-day walks to bring people from all over the world to NSW, boosting local tourism businesses, jobs and regional economies.

“The Dorrigo project will be one of the first of its kind to combine two new, world class nature-based attractions – the Arc Rainforest Centre and the multi-day walk – providing access for all abilities to the Gondwana rainforest,” Mr Ayres said.

Glenn Storrie, Manager, National Parks and Wildlife Service Coffs Harbour said, “We are very excited by the news of the funding.

“Dorrigo National Park has beautiful natural world heritage rainforest that we can showcase to the rest of the world.

“There is a rich Aboriginal cultural heritage to share and we are working closely with local Gumbaynggirr people to explore opportunities for them to tell their stories about country and culture.”

By Andrew VIVIAN