The ambitious Dorrigo Arc Rainforest Centre and a 4-day Dorrigo Escarpment great walk have been approved under the NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
The environmental assessment considered all potential impacts on the environment, biodiversity and heritage, as well as issues raised in community submissions.
It concluded that the projects are unlikely to have a significant impact on the environment, threatened species or ecological communities, or their habitats.
The reviews of environmental factors for both projects have now been determined, allowing the proposals to proceed subject to a range of specified conditions.
National Parks and Wildlife Service has responded to topics raised in the submissions with some changes to the designs.
The final review of environmental factors documents will be published on the project webpage, along with the submissions reports and decision statements.
The Dorrigo Escarpment Great Walk was also referred to the Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
The referral assessed the level of impacts to National and World Heritage and threatened species, ensuring the highest level of public confidence in the project.
After public exhibition in October, the Department decided the proposal to construct, operate and manage a new multi-day walking track was not a controlled action and did not require further assessment and approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
The proposals will now proceed to Heritage NSW, who need to approve works or activities that may impact heritage listed items under the Heritage Act 1977.
Tenders for the construction of the walking track sections closed in late November with contracts to be awarded in early 2026. Both nationwide and local track-building companies have shown interest.
Track construction is expected to commence in early 2026 and take up to 2 years to complete.