WORK on the Liverpool Plains shire Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway has been "dormant", with COVID-19 mainly to blame. Pandemic restrictions have meant the committee has been unable to meet up to discuss the work and has been unable to raise funds for a feasibility study for the project. As well as this, the head of the committee is newly-elected Liverpool Plains Shire Council (LPSC) mayor Doug Hawkins, who now has a lot more responsibility than before. Cr Hawkins is hoping work can kick off a bit more in the new year. "We have to put together the feasibility study still, that whole study is going to cost about $150,000 ... but the committee is still committed," Cr Hawkins said. "We're still wanting to forge ahead with it, but we've just had those restrictions on us and had to get regulatory things done in order to be a stand-alone committee." The group became Liverpool Plains Kokoda Memorial Walkway Incorporated after registering with the NSW Office of Fair Trading and gaining an Australian Business Number (ABN) by the Australian Business Register in March. Read also: The group is independent of LPSC, and the mayor said the group always wanted money for the project to come from donations or grants, rather than using council funds. But he said without the feasibility study, they weren't able to approach government bodies for grants. "We can't go to the relevant bodies looking for money if we don't have a clear picture and a reasonable estimate on what it's going to cost," he told ACM. Whenever the study is able to be completed, Cr Hawkins is confident the project would be beneficial to the shire in numerous ways. "People are looking for projects to bring everyone out of this period and to kick-start the economy, and I think it's a good one to do that," he said. "We believe we can channel the koala population that runs right from Gunnedah to here and the corridor they move in is only a short distance from where were looking to build it. "The walkway/cycleway ... would make a really good tourist attraction where they could hire bikes and ride bikes. "It ticks all the boxes." The estimated $6.25 million 22km-long concrete walkway will run between Quirindi War Memorial and Werris Creek War Memorial Swimming Pool, and will acknowledge and honour the soldiers who were part of the battles along the Kokoda Track. The track would take the back route between the towns, running along Bells Gate Road and Back Werris Creek Road. Twenty-two storyboards, one for each village along the track, will tell the story of Kokoda and where the battles were fought. Stories of heroism and gallantry will be told along the way, stories that all Australians can relate to and be proud of. Individuals, organisations and businesses wishing to support the group or wanting to find out more about the project should contact the Cr Doug Hawkins via djhawkins1948@gmail.com
The walkway would take the back route between Werris Creek and Quirindi, running along Bells Gate Rd and Back Werris Creek Rd.
WORK on the Liverpool Plains shire Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway has been "dormant", with COVID-19 mainly to blame.
Pandemic restrictions have meant the committee has been unable to meet up to discuss the work and has been unable to raise funds for a feasibility study for the project.
As well as this, the head of the committee is newly-elected Liverpool Plains Shire Council (LPSC) mayor Doug Hawkins, who now has a lot more responsibility than before.
Cr Hawkins is hoping work can kick off a bit more in the new year.
"We have to put together the feasibility study still, that whole study is going to cost about $150,000 ... but the committee is still committed," Cr Hawkins said.
"We're still wanting to forge ahead with it, but we've just had those restrictions on us and had to get regulatory things done in order to be a stand-alone committee."
The group is independent of LPSC, and the mayor said the group always wanted money for the project to come from donations or grants, rather than using council funds.
But he said without the feasibility study, they weren't able to approach government bodies for grants.
"We can't go to the relevant bodies looking for money if we don't have a clear picture and a reasonable estimate on what it's going to cost," he told ACM.
Whenever the study is able to be completed, Cr Hawkins is confident the project would be beneficial to the shire in numerous ways.
"People are looking for projects to bring everyone out of this period and to kick-start the economy, and I think it's a good one to do that," he said.
"We believe we can channel the koala population that runs right from Gunnedah to here and the corridor they move in is only a short distance from where were looking to build it.
"The walkway/cycleway ... would make a really good tourist attraction where they could hire bikes and ride bikes.
"It ticks all the boxes."
Project background
The estimated $6.25 million 22km-long concrete walkway will run between Quirindi War Memorial and Werris Creek War Memorial Swimming Pool, and will acknowledge and honour the soldiers who were part of the battles along the Kokoda Track.
The track would take the back route between the towns, running along Bells Gate Road and Back Werris Creek Road.
Twenty-two storyboards, one for each village along the track, will tell the story of Kokoda and where the battles were fought. Stories of heroism and gallantry will be told along the way, stories that all Australians can relate to and be proud of.
Individuals, organisations and businesses wishing to support the group or wanting to find out more about the project should contact the Cr Doug Hawkins via djhawkins1948@gmail.com
