New Tourism Icon ANZAC Memorial Walk

New Tourism Icon – ANZAC Memorial WalkIt is perhaps the most ambitious and undeniably positive projects happening in Newcastle right now – a new piece of tourism infrastructure with a personal connection for thousands of Hunter natives.The ANZAC Memorial Walk will form part of Newcastle council’s Bathers Way promenade development, a 5km shared pathway stretching from Nobbys to Merewether.When completed, the walk will feature a 200 metre cliff top bridge and oversized steel silhouettes of soldiers inscribed with 3860 family names of almost 11,000 known Hunter Valley men and women who enlisted to serve the British and Commonwealth forces during the Great War of 1914-1918.A fantastic example of regional cooperation, the walk will offer unrivalled views of the Newcastle coastline and is already being described in some quarters as something that will become one of Australia’s most spectacular coastal walks.The project is being funded by a $3 million grant from BHP and an interest bearing trust fund which will finance maintenance for 70 years. BHP Billiton made its donation to the project because 2015 also marks the centenary of the company’s steel-making association with the Hunter region. The City of Newcastle has pledged an additional $1.5 million from Newcastle Airport funds and has also provided valuable in-kind works.Newcastle architecture firm EJE has carried out all the detailed design work on the project, including the laser-cut steel silhouettes of ex-servicemen and women.Hunter Development Corporation is the coordinating authority.This week, the first bridge spans have been lifted into place on the huge Y-shaped pylons that were erected last week by crane. The intricate operation closed Memorial Drive on The Hill for over 10 hours.The ANZAC Memorial Walk is on schedule to be opened well before the centenary commemorations in April.