There is an urgent need for a re-assessment of Australia’s role in the protection of our military heritage along the Kokoda Trail.
The construction of conventional buildings at Owers Corner and steel wire rope swing bridges across creeks at significant battlesites is akin to desecration of the most significant symbol of our involvement in New Guinea during the Pacific War. (more…)
The Kokoda Track Authority has advised of a plan to construct permanent swing bridges with cables and metal thread with constructed anchor points capable of taking up to 8 – 10 persons at Eora Creek Crossing, (Dump 1) Eora Creek, Efogi River (between Naduri and Efogi 2), Elomi Creek (between Efogi 1 and Efogi 2), Ofi Creek and Goldie River.
I do not know where these ‘plans’ are coming from but I do know they are being done without any consultation at all with the paying customer i.e. the trekker.
The research we have conducted with a significant number of people who have trekked with Adventure Kokoda over the past 18 years indicates that they want the track left alone. They want to trek in the footsteps of our diggers as they did it. They do not want boardwalks and bridges. (more…)
A post by Robyn Kruk, Secretary of the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts:
Dear Charlie,
As a trekker who walked the Kokoda Track with you in 2007, and now as the Head of the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts I would like to respond to the concerns you have recently raised publicly in relation to Australia’s efforts to assist PNG to protect the Kokoda Track. I note that some of these points have already been outlined in other correspondence to you from this department. (more…)
Scope
The Kokoda Trail will be divided into sections between Owers Corner and Kokoda. Trek operators will be invited to ‘adopt’ a section each and provide a detailed report covering condition of the track, likely erosion problems, drainage solutions, campsite locations, placement of toilets, helipads, airfields, creek crossings, VHF radio blind spots, strength of digicell signals and any track safety issues.
The sections will be allocated according to the route each trek operator uses.
Information will be provided free of charge to the PNG Kokoda Track Authority and will be updated on a regular basis.
Consultants who do not have an intimate knowledge of the various tracks that make up the Kokoda Trail will not be used.