Post by L Roebuck on Apr 26, 2006 7:21:59 GMT -5
$150,000 repair bill for caves
Janine Beacham
Wednesday, 26 April 2006
AN insurance claim for an estimated $150,000 in damage to the Mammoth Caves site has been lodged following the recent wildfire from a Department of Conservation prescribed burn.
Damage to infrastructure was mostly confined to essential visitor servicing areas, including the cave entrance boardwalks, ticket sales, waste management irrigation systems and water supply plumbing.
Augusta-Margaret River Tourism Association chief executive officer Robyn McBeath said the CaveWorks' resource team had responded quickly in its efforts to restore the operation of the Mammoth Cave, albeit in a reduced capacity.
After being closed for seven days, the site was reopened with 70 per cent of the cave accessible.
This was in time for the beginning of the Easter holidays.
Visitor access to the back exit of the cave and the full operation of the self guided tour and associated walk trails is not expected to be available until October 2006, although every effort will be made to achieve an earlier outcome, Ms McBeath said.
AMRTA caves and lighthouse manager Peter Bell said changes to the Mammoth tour meant that all visitors must enter and leave the cave via the front entrance.
"The installation of appropriate visitor information signage, physical barriers and re-programming of lighting systems has addressed any potential difficulties with visitor traffic flow," he said.
Most work has been carried out by CaveWorks.
Post-fire tree hazard reduction and addressing immediate high risk access areas has been carried out by CALM.
Further hazard reduction, including the removal of tree falls within the exit doline and clearing of the marri walk trails, is still pending.
CALM will complete this work over the next two weeks.
Augusta Margaret River Mail
Reference
Janine Beacham
Wednesday, 26 April 2006
AN insurance claim for an estimated $150,000 in damage to the Mammoth Caves site has been lodged following the recent wildfire from a Department of Conservation prescribed burn.
Damage to infrastructure was mostly confined to essential visitor servicing areas, including the cave entrance boardwalks, ticket sales, waste management irrigation systems and water supply plumbing.
Augusta-Margaret River Tourism Association chief executive officer Robyn McBeath said the CaveWorks' resource team had responded quickly in its efforts to restore the operation of the Mammoth Cave, albeit in a reduced capacity.
After being closed for seven days, the site was reopened with 70 per cent of the cave accessible.
This was in time for the beginning of the Easter holidays.
Visitor access to the back exit of the cave and the full operation of the self guided tour and associated walk trails is not expected to be available until October 2006, although every effort will be made to achieve an earlier outcome, Ms McBeath said.
AMRTA caves and lighthouse manager Peter Bell said changes to the Mammoth tour meant that all visitors must enter and leave the cave via the front entrance.
"The installation of appropriate visitor information signage, physical barriers and re-programming of lighting systems has addressed any potential difficulties with visitor traffic flow," he said.
Most work has been carried out by CaveWorks.
Post-fire tree hazard reduction and addressing immediate high risk access areas has been carried out by CALM.
Further hazard reduction, including the removal of tree falls within the exit doline and clearing of the marri walk trails, is still pending.
CALM will complete this work over the next two weeks.
Augusta Margaret River Mail
Reference