Community
13 August, 2024
In ranger’s shadow
NATIONAL Park ranger Mel Tortike shadows the workers toiling away on the 94km-long Wangetti Trail to ensure rare flora and fauna is not disturbed in the the Mowbray and Macalister Range national parks and the Wet Tropics World Heritage area.
Mr Tortike is known as a ‘shadow ranger’, making sure that construction of the $47 million trail has minimal impact and that all infrastructure meets approved specifications.
He serves as a point of contact for site and project managers as well as government bodies and Traditional Owners. In this position he assesses environmental management plans, connects with community members, and ensures compliance with the Nature Conservation Act.
“It’s a pretty complex role, so it’s not just on the ground, it’s desktop analysis and looking at licensing, permitting, ensuring compliance and working closely with the contractor all the time,” said Mr Tortike.
“It’s also refreshing to talk to people and local business representatives who are all excited for the trail to open,” he said.
“There are some magnificent sites, trees, animals and plants to see, so you’ve really got to look after the very things that people are going to come to see.
“The track will be fantastic when it’s finished. This will be a path through a World Heritage area and it will just be a fantastic showcase for people to see areas that are normally hard to access.”
State Tourism Minister Michael Healy said it was an ecotourism trail “built on unique, diverse and sensitive land that has had little to no access available for people to experience so protecting the flora and fauna is crucial”.
“Our national parks are of tremendous cultural significance so it’s critical the trail is built carefully and without any long-term impacts resulting from construction.
“Mel is contributing in an immensely positive way to help ensure the Wangetti Trail blends seamlessly in with the forest, providing an authentic, low-impact experience for visitors.”
Environment Minister Leanne Linard said people who experienced nature were more likely to care for it, “and the Wangetti Trail will allow visitors to build that connection with some of Far North Queensland’s most biodiverse areas like never before”.
“The shadow ranger role was created for the Wangetti Trail project to ensure there was proper oversight for the trail delivery and construction within a protected area,” she said.
