WA Trails and Recreation Forum 2021

The WA Trails and Recreation Forum 2021 will showcase the major trails and recreation projects underway in WA highlighting the Great Southern region.

More information and register HERE

Presentations

Emma George, former Olympic athlete and passionate outdoor recreation advocate, will give the keynote address on her journey of recovery and resilience.

Presenters from across the State and international will explore a wide range of topics including –

• sustainable trail planning and building
• trails as a recovery tool
• international and local case studies
• economics and trails
• Aboriginal tourism and more!

Networking opportunity

This forum is a valuable networking opportunity for the wider trails and outdoor recreation community including land managers, government agencies, local government officers, trails and outdoor recreation advocates, the corporate sector, educators and volunteers.

Program

Commencing lunch time Wednesday, forum participants will be ferried to Camp Quaranup to choose between the State’s Trails Blueprint workshop, trail building theory session (presented by DBCA) and a cultural walk.

Presentations including the keynote address will commence on Thursday, with the following highlights:

Recovery will explore the effect that the pandemic has had on recreation in Ireland through our international speaker, Darragh O’Sullivan. Dave Willcox, from Common Ground, and Michael Keeler, from Keston economics will explore the economic impacts closer to home.

Resilience will be showcased by Collie’s fascinating transition from a Coal Town into a Trail Town but Parks and Wildlife Rod Annear. Rod will also explore governance models and the effect of those on the sustainability of trails. Griff Longley, the long-standing advocate for nature play for children, will talk about building resilience in children and Kym Gibson, from Adventure Connections, will present on Adventurous Minds, youth adventure therapy programs.

Recreation will explore how trails play a key role in facilitating outdoor recreation, and why this is important. Glenn Morley from DLGSC will present research on recreation in WA, Steve Bennett from DLGSC has a modern take on an ancient activity and Agata Sleeman from Trails WA will present on trails use during COVID.

And that is just the morning, after lunch we will look at 3 more streams, Pathways and Access, Trails Tourism and Planning for Trails.

Parks and Wildlife Service will showcase current trail construction projects as part of Friday’s field trips, the new southern terminus for the Munda Biddi Trail and Bibbulmun Track, Munda Biddi Trail realignment in William Bay National Park and upgrades to the Castle Rock Trail in the Porongurup National Park.

Brought to you by

This annual forum is presented by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSC) and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) with input from members of the Trails Reference Group, Outdoors Great Southern and the City of Albany.