Rejuvenating kunanyi/Mt. Wellington's Great Short Walk

The City of Hobart has been rejuvenating the historic Organ Pipes and Pinnacle Tracks on Mount Wellington in Tasmania.

by Alister "Al" Clark, Project Manager, City of Hobart, Tasmania, Lindsay Ashlin, Supervisor Track Management, City of Hobart, Tasmania

Originally built in the early 1900’s, the walk follows a historic track through a sub-alpine environment. The new works use the same style, techniques and materials as the original works and are carefully blended in with the existing track and surrounds. Providing spectacular views of Hobart and the Organ Pipes, the tracks contribute significantly to the health and happiness of the local community and visitors.

This presentation covers the whole project lifecycle, from planning and design through project management and construction, and its role in tourism to Tasmania. It will highlight challenges of balancing environmental, heritage and safety issues, addressing multiple stakeholder perspectives, and construction in alpine environments across boulder fields using helicopters for materials transport.

About the Authors

Alister "Al" Clark is the City of Hobart’s project manager for the Organ Pipes and Pinnacle tracks rejuvenation works. Al came to the City of Hobart to do practical work after completing a PhD in surveying at the University of Tasmania, which he finds is a far happier and healthier way to spend a working day. In Tasmania, he has worked as environment and Heritage manager for the Department of Defence, and for Greening Australia in community landcare and other environmental projects.

Al started his career as a bush regenerator and seed collector in Sydney and Northern NSW. He has also worked in the Northern Territory on Landcare and Bushfire management projects. Al is married with two teenage daughters, likes walking, gardening, reading, fishing and recently started playing soccer again.

Lindsay Ashlin is an avid mountain bike rider and bush walker in Tasmania’s pristine wilderness, Lindsay is passionate about his role as Supervisor Track Management for the City of Hobart. For nearly twenty years Lindsay has worked to carve and maintain an extensive myriad of tracks across kunanyi/Mount Wellington, and throughout the surrounding city bushland reserves. Featuring the iconic North South Track, internationally reputed as one Australia’s finest handmade tracks.

Lindsay works in sympathy with the environment using local, natural and sustainable building materials and techniques. Minimizing impact both on the environment and heritage value. Only 15 minutes from the CBD, Mount Wellington dominates the landscape. Popular all-year-round with locals and tourists alike, the mountain sees hundreds of visitors daily.

759 views • posted 06/03/2019