Council continuing work on Wandi Walk

Over time, the natural migration of the creek has led to the Wandi Walk shifting, and a recent review conducted by Council confirmed that both the creek and Wandi Walk now traverse private land, with no Crown land available to support the existing alignment of the trail. 

Earlier this year, affected landowners exercised their rights to restrict public access across their private property, leading to the current closure of the walk.  

This situation presents significant challenges, involving Crown and private land ownership, historical public access, and the interests of multiple stakeholders and agencies.  

Council acknowledges the high level of community interest in this matter and is committed to finding a resolution that balances these complexities. 

To ensure a thorough and transparent process, Council will take the following steps: 

• Peer Review: An independent review of the work completed to date will be conducted to verify the findings.
• Boundary Survey: A boundary establishment survey of relevant Crown land parcels will be undertaken.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Council recently commenced engagement with NECMA and will collaborate with all relevant agencies and stakeholders such as DEECA, to ensure all perspectives are considered.
• Specialist Advice: A land use specialist will be engaged to develop and prioritise potential options for resolving the issue. 

Council's Director Assets, Alan Rees, said once these steps are completed, Council will determine a preferred pathway forward. 

“This is a challenging and sensitive situation, and Council is dedicated to working collaboratively with all parties to achieve the best outcome for our community," he said. 

"We thank residents for their understanding and patience as we navigate this complex issue."  

Council is committed to keeping the community informed as the project progresses.  

Updates will be provided on a quarterly basis, with the next update scheduled for the end of March 2025.