WA's Tree Top Walk celebrates its 500,000th visitor

14/3/99
WA's world renowned Tree Top Walk today celebrated its 500,000th visitor and the reintroduction of native animals into the Valley of the Giants.
Environment Minister Cheryl Edwardes said it was fitting that the 500,000th visitor to the walk was on hand to view the next stage in conservation management plans for the State's Tingle Forest.
"Since the Department of Conservation and Land Management's Tree Top Walk was opened in 1996, it has become one the State's greatest tourism attractions with intrastate, national and international tourists flocking to this unique and innovative nature-based experience," she said.
"It has grossed $3.1 million since it opened and its popularity and success has surpassed all expectations.
"Using a resource of 36 hectares of old growth forest, the walk has now become a role model for a similar project in the United States of America.
"It is an excellent example of how CALM successfully integrates the conservation of our natural heritage with tourism, recreation and forest management, for the benefit of all.
"Only three years ago, the forest floor was being trampled, with visitor pressure posing a threat to the health and conservation of the tingle trees.
"With profits from forestry operations CALM built the Tree Top Walk, 40 metres high and 600 metres in length, which today provides visitors with the unique experience of strolling among the tree tops, while at the same time conserving the valuable forest floor.
"In addition to this, the revenue raised from the Tree Top Walk goes back into the running and maintenance of the facility and other recreation sites in the region making it truly sustainable."

Mrs Edwardes said conservation management of this very special area did not stop with the development of the Valley of the Giants tourism precinct and the Tree Top Walk.
"As part of its wildlife recovery program Western Shield, CALM has been baiting this area for foxes to control the threat these killing machines pose to our native animal species," she said.
Western Shield is the biggest wildlife conservation program ever undertaken in Australia. It aims to bring native animals back from the brink of extinction by controlling introduced predators, the fox and feral cat, on more than 3.5 million hectares of conservation land.
The Minister said fox-baiting in the Valley of the Giants area had been extremely successful paving the way for CALM to reintroduce 40 woylies into the area this week.
Woylies were the first species to be removed from the National and State Threatened Species List as a result of successful conservation management. Since then two other native species, the quenda and tammar wallaby, have also been removed from the State's List.
Mrs Edwardes said the Western Shield program, like the Tree Top Walk, has surpassed all expectations and continues to be the driving force in the conservation of our native fauna.
"The success of both projects is due to the commitment and dedication of CALM staff and support from the community," the Minister said.
"The Valley of the Giants area will soon no longer be known only for the Treetop Walk and Tingle Forest but also as a haven for native species - adding to the nature-based tourism experience."
Media contacts: Nicole Trigwell on 9421 7707
CALM Dr Syd Shea on 9442 0325