Publicity

The text of the article is reproduced below

Susan Oong

A NEW all-weather boardwalk has been constructed at Mount Field National Park, to protect the fragile alpine plants and improve the experience for walkers.

More than 900m of raised boardwalk has been installed as part of the Mount Field East Track at Windy Moor, which starts at Lake Fenton and traverses to the summit of Mount Field East. The boardwalk covers the most impacted section of the track.

The area's alpine moorland features several endemic plant species, including cushion plants, which are easily harmed by walkers. In recent years the track had become degraded by hikers, and erosion by water added to the problem,

The project, which took about two years to complete, was largely funded by the Tasmanian Community Fund with additional money from interested groups and Individuals.. It has been managed by the Friends of Mount Field..

Mount Field East is a popular alpine day walk in the park that gives visitors extensive views of varying landscapes, including glacial lakes, high peaks, snow gum woodland, alpine moorlands and herb fields. The deciduous beech (fagus), Australia's only native deciduous tree, grows in the area.

More than 645 hours of work contributed by the Friends of Mount Field ' volunteers enabled the project to finish on time and on budget.

Over the course of the build 20 helicopter trips conveyed more than 12 tonnes of material to the site, which included the 304 wooden planks used in the boardwalk's construction.