Tree climb ‘flying’ towards reality

CONSTRUCTION could begin as early as February 2007 on the regions newest tourist attraction after Kiama council has begun seeking state approval for the Illawarra Fly tree top walkway.

Neil Wade part owner and director of Canopy 01, the company behind Illawarra Fly said Kiama council had passed a resolution allowing the development application to proceed to the next stage.

The plan for Illawarra Fly requires ratification from the Minister for Planning because the proposal is not allowed under the current LEP.

Once we receive the ratification then we have to make sure the DA passes and then it is time to rock and roll, he said.

We have put a fair bit of work in to get this so far so it is great to see it really motoring ahead.

Once completed Illawarra Fly will provide an elevated walk in the canopy of the rainforest along Knights Hill bordering the edge of the Illawarra escarpment. The walk will provide visitors with a 600m long tree top canopy walk culminating in a spiral tower 45m above the forest floor.

The walk way is basically a steel truss system threaded through the rainforest, he said

It will basically be like walking through the tree tops at a constant height of seven storeys high.

The floor is open grate so you will be able to walk through, among and above the crowns of the highest eucalypts looking out towards the ocean.

Mr Wade said the Illawarra Fly would also cater to the elderly and the disabled enabling everyone to take in what he described as one of the most breathtaking views available.

We will be running a golf cart up and down the walkway from ground level so everyone will be able to join in the fun, he said. The only part people may have troubles with is the lookout tower which will sit 47m above the ground.

I can tell you from experience climbing a spiral stairway at that height is a pretty hairy experience.

After setting up the Otway Fly along the Great Ocean Road in Victoria Mr Wade said he was absolutely positive the Illawarra Fly would be a huge success saying the benefits to the local community would be massive.

Every town wants that one attraction that is going to bring in the visitors. This is it, he said. We have done this before, we know it will be a huge success. Through the walkway, caf?/restaurant and retail outlet we expect to employ 30 full time staff while we expect the amount of jobs created in the local community to be at least double that.

The tourist centers are wetting themselves with excitement. This is going to really ignite the community.

Kiama Mayor Sandra McCarthy said she was looking forward to seeing the finished Illawarra Fly saying she believed it had the potential to be a huge success.

It will add something different and exciting to the local community, she said. I believe that while it is very unique it will mix well with the other attractions we have to offer in this municipality.