New plank walk to bring nature a step closer to visitors

A new plank walk in Germein Reserve is ready for visitors, as the Port MacDonnell Landcare Group (PMLG) finishes their latest project.

The plank walk passes through the middle of the new walking trail, designed to link two established loop walks in Germein Reserve – the Wilderness Loop and Dingley Dell Loop – allowing visitors to walk from Dingley Dell corner right through to the town of Port MacDonnell and back.

PMLG President Peter Feast said the new walk is built across a water course, which is prone to flooding during the winter, and the group wanted to install the walk prior to the upcoming wet season to make it easier for further work down the track.

“It means we can now complete this link path, and we can do the rest any time, even when it’s wet in the winter time because we can access it across the water course,” Peter said.

“In the past we did do one water course with stepping stones, but that had a few issues.

“This is now more accessible to people, even if you’re on a walking stick you can still enjoy the track.”

PMLG member Ian Black said the materials donated by OneFortyOne through the PINE Community Grants Program – treated pine planks and strainers, as well as a grant for stainless steel screws – were the best options for sustainability and for low maintenance.

“We’re looking at a 50 year life span,” Ian said.

“We’re very grateful to OneFortyOne for giving us the grant.”

“It should last a very long time – it was the best way to go,” added Peter.

The project took about five hours spread over three days, with a team of PMLG members, led by Ian.

“I organised it and I had some very good helpers,” Ian said.

“We did the slashing of the track on one day, preparation of the posts another day, then five of us came along and laid the boards out and fixed them to it.”

“I was impressed that four out of five people over 70 that actually laid the boards!”

“It’s not cheap this stuff, it was very good of OneFortyOne to donate it to our community.”