Albany council backs track terminus on York Street

The finish-line of the Bibbulmun Track and Munda Biddi Trail will be moved to the Alison Hartman Gardens after a unanimous vote by the City of Albany council on Tuesday.

The 1000km trail currently ends at Proudlove Parade near the old visitor centre, but will soon be moved to York Street to drive travellers to the heart of Albany.

Councillors voted to adopt a concept design developed by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions to move the southern terminus of the two trails in an estimated $100,000 project to boost local tourism.

Councillors voted to alter the original recommendation to ensure the City was reimbursed for the estimated $3000 construction costs.

Deputy Mayor Greg Stocks said it was important to shift costs to the State Government as the City dealt with a dive in revenue because of COVID-19.

“I buy a pass every year and I expect that money to be invested back into the national parks and in things like trails and this southern trails terminus — by the department and not by us,” he said.

“We have a $7.5 million shortfall in the next nine months.”

Cr Chris Thomson spoke in support of creating an appealing finish-line for visitors to Albany.

“For too long, the standard of the terminus of both these trails has been the poor cousin to the northern terminus in Kalamunda and Mundaring,” he said.

“I think this project is really keeping with the sense of achievement that people must feel when they finish both of these trails.”