Upgrade to leave nature untouched

An upgrade to The Gap and Natural Bridge in the Torndirrup National Park is in progress, with the Department of Parks and Wildlife opening the gates to the environmentally conscious construction site to stakeholders this week.

The project, worth more than $4 million, started in late November and is expected to be complete by the end of spring.

DPaW regional park and visitors' services leader Mike Shepherd said the intention behind the project was to construct a world-class amenity while leaving the natural environment untouched.

"Because it's a natural site with boulders everywhere … they've planned where the walkway needs to go and given each rock a number and planned where that rock needs to be put to bring back into the natural landscaping post-project," he said.

"Others have been put in a stockpile, wrapped in rubber matting to prevent them from being scratched and damaged.

"The intent is to leave the site as untouched as possible after the project so that we will still have a natural environment that doesn't bear the scars of construction years down the line."

Anchor points are being drilled for five major beams to hold the new walkway.

Mr Shepherd said a temporary access track was constructed for heavy machinery to traverse and thick conveyor belting laid across the granite to prevent the machinery's tracks touching the rock.

He said winter weather could lead to delays, but he expected the work to be completed on schedule.

"There's always the potential to blow out; we are working on the edge of the south coast with very exposed granite surfaces," he said.

"But we've got a schedule to say that it should be finished by the end of August to mid- September."