Marakoopa Cave flood damage repairs
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NOVEMBER 2016 | David Claridge
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THE JUNE floods were several months ago but the effects are still being felt.
The Marakoopa Cave at Mole Creek have been undergoing major repairs so that tourists can visit again.
Once the water receded it was discovered that the cave was no longer in a state for people to enjoy it, prompting necessary repairs.
Parks and Reserves Manager Central North, Rob Buck, has said that the damage to external infrastructure included the access road, access bridge, the creek banks outside the cave entrance, and the pump station providing the water supply to the visitor centre and toilets.
“Within the cave, there were large amounts of debris and the cave’s lighting system was damaged beyond repair, requiring an entirely new specialised cave lighting system to be designed and installed,” he said.
“As the Mole Creek caves are a major tourism drawcard for the area, we are aware of the impacts of this closure on local businesses and are doing our best to ensure that Marakoopa Cave can be re-opened to the public as soon as possible.”
Workers have already made headway, repairing the road bridge to allow contractor access. The pump station has been replaced, the lighting system is being replaced, and rocks and silt within the cave has been removed, allowing natural water flow to continue through the system.
The repair project is expected to continue until December.
Nearby King Solomon’s Cave wasn’t affected and remains open for guided tours.
[udesign_icon_font name="fa fa-camera" color="#000000"] Tas Parks and Wildlife
