28/10/01
Visitors to Perth's icon tourist attraction, Kings Park, will now see initial construction work on the Lotteries Federation Walkway.
The walkway will be a combination of boardwalk and on the ground pathways. A raised walkway will include the 250m arched glass bridge.
Speaking at the Centenary Family Fun day in Kings Park, the Minister responsible for the Centenary in Western Australia Tom Stephens said that the new walkway would be a bonus for the many thousands of tourists who visit the park every year.
"The walkway is part of a 10-year plan to refurbish and enhance Kings Park's visitor facilities," Mr Stephens said.
"It will also provide artworks and interpretive works providing information on the Federation, Aboriginal culture and Kings Park's extensive flora species.
"Replacing ageing pathway systems, creating disabled access, safety lighting and new wildflower gardens will form part of the new walkway."
Mr Stephens presented $390,000 to the Friends of Kings Park to support the building of the Walkway from the WA 2001 Community Centenary Project.
The WA 2001 program is a $3.5million community program funded by the State Government and has assisted more than 200 community programs from Kununurra in the north to Esperance in the south.
Mr Stephens said that with support from the WA Lotteries Commission, the Friends of Kings Park and the Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority, the State would benefit from a world first in the use of titanium in a pedestrian walkway.
"This will put Perth on the world stage and I look forward to monitoring the development of the walkway," Mr Stephens said.
It is anticipated that the walkway will be completed in autumn next year.
Media contact: Julie Cole 9213 6500
