The development of new recreation trails across the Great Southern is gaining momentum with the appointment of a full-time project coordinator – Karl Hansom – to oversee its development. Karl’s appointment is a key moment in enabling GSCORE to develop a Great Southern Regional Trails Master Plan.

Karl Hansom is excited to be starting in the role and looking forward to developing the Regional Trails Master Plan. “The Great Southern region has outstanding landscapes suited to a diversity of trail activities, and I am looking forward to ensuring that our region develops world class trails, suited to different user groups,” he said.

“The aim of the Regional Trails Master Plan is to develop ‘shovel-ready’ plans for a number of priority projects which can be constructed as soon as possible.” The project has already begun working work with eleven local governments in the Great Southern as well as key local agencies and user groups to develop a ten-year plan for trail development.

Phase One of the project involves an inventory and gap analysis of current and planned trails in the region. During the next two months GSCORE will conduct extensive community consultation with stakeholders across the Great Southern.

Karl has a Natural Resource Management background managing biodiversity projects on Western Australia’s South Coast for the last nine years. Prior to that he has coordinated school and community education projects with the Department of Environment, and has managed projects involving conservation trainees. Karl knows that a benefit of living in the Great Southern is the amazing choice of outdoor environments and activities which he shares with his family. Camping, hiking and canoeing are favourites of this family!

This project is funded by Lotterywest, with matching funding support from all eleven local governments in the Great Southern region, as well as the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSC) and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA).