Newsroom

September 4, 2024

Empowering and changing lives, while saving the health system millions – it’s a no brainer! Katter’s Australian Party candidate for Mundingburra Michael Pugh has enthusiastically declared, supporting a North Queensland concept to encourage accessible bushwalking.

“I am a keen bushwalker, and I love taking in the amazing locations we have here, only a stone’s throw away from Townsville,” Mr Pugh said.

“I have seen the benefits of getting out in nature, and the positive affect it has on people, especially if they are having a rough time.

“That’s why I am right behind Richard Hole and his fantastic plan to create accessible paths so all people can share the landscape we are blessed to have on our doorstep,” he said.

Mr Hole is advocating to have accessible paths constructed, providing safer bushwalking options for those like him with mobility challenges.

An avid bushwalker before losing his leg in a car accident, Mr Hole is striving to get back out into the nature he loves, albeit at a slower pace.

“I’m passionate about having safe paths for people of all abilities - sealing sections of loose ground, adding a rope handrail, or building safe viewing platforms opens up the possibility of bushwalking for a range of people who are currently shut out,” Mr Hole said.

“Bushwalking is one of the healthiest and most rewarding activities you can take part in, enjoying fresh clean air, and stimulating your mind.

“When I talk to people with different mobility challenges, they all too often say to me that they are too worried about losing their footing, or simply taking too long to carefully traverse potentially dangerous paths,” he said.

KAP Mundingburra Candidate Michael Pugh is a keen bushwalker, kickstarting the Townsville Hike and Explore Group, a social outdoor group, which he has grown to over 15,000 members.

“I see firsthand every week the change in people who have the opportunity to get out and about in nature,” Mr Pugh said.

“The positive impact on people who bushwalk is remarkable – not just for their physical fitness, but for their mental health and generally wellbeing.

“Our health system is struggling to keep up, and any initiative to help more people to become fitter and healthier would return ten-fold the cost in savings – it makes sense to me.

“Why should those with mobility challenges miss out on the wonderful benefits of being in nature?” Mr Pugh asked.

Discussing possible locations for accessible paths, Michael and Richard agreed that in Far North Queensland, Saddle Mountain, Mount Whitfield range overlooking Cairns city, the Tinaroo range, the top of Mount Fisher near Millaa Millaa, and Mount Lewis would be ideal locations.

Closer to Townsville, Mr Pugh also suggested that accessible path options could be considered, with the appropriate consultation, in highly popular bushwalking locations including the Paluma Range National Park and Bowling Green Bay National Park.

They agreed that as these locations currently have roads that pass quite close to them, the tracks would be reasonably short, making them prime candidates.

Mr Pugh said that if elected in October, he’d be a strong and vocal advocate for projects that promotes heathy recreation opportunities for all Queenslanders regardless of their physical ability.

“Mundingburra and our wider city of Townsville is such a brilliant launch pad for amazing bushwalking experiences, and I can’t wait to see these be available for all of us,” he said.

Photo: Michael Pugh and his son Nathaniel John Pugh at the summit of Mount Bartle Frere (Queensland's highest mountain) earlier this year.