Work starts on Tower Hill walk trail in Mt Barker

Hikers could be walking the new Mt Barker Hill trail by July, with construction starting on the Tower Hill development last month.

The walk trail is part of the Shire of Plantagenet’s plans to develop Tower Hill into a tourist attraction with three components — the walk trail and landscape development at the top of the hill, a mountain bike trail network and the lighting of the tower.

The first phase of the walk trail development is a treetop raised boardwalk, which is being designed and built by local contractors Plantagenet Sheds and Steel.

“The boardwalk section is a steel structure that is also suitable for people in a wheelchair, as part of that circuit,” Shire executive manager strategic development Andrus Budrikis said.

“It is designed to be an easy walk. It isn’t very long and goes from where the Rotary Lookout to halfway around the hill so you get a view to the south-west, different to the view from the lookout.”

Mr Budrikis said the Shire was now getting quotes for the second phase of the trail, which was the non-boardwalk section. He said the other two sections of the Tower Hill redevelopment were still in planning.

“With the mountain bike trail, we asked (Great Southern Centre for Outdoor Recreation Excellence) to apply for a grant on our behalf, and we are seeking funding for that,” he said.

“The lighting of the tower, we are finalising a concept design now ... then it really goes to the next step, which is what council want to do with it.

“It hasn’t been authorised to go beyond a concept design at this stage.”

The Rotary Lookout and carpark will remain open during the trail works.