Michael Balderstone, Nimbin GoodTimes

Martin Soutar from Lismore Council emailed me with an invitation to check out progress on the walking track, but first a bit of background.

After years living simply and close to the Earth in India, Nepal and Patmos in Greece, I found it seriously hard settling back into Australia. I tried for years and couldn’t, visited Nimbin a few times, camped in the visitor’s spot at Tuntable once, but kept wandering and escaping expectations by disappearing overseas.

Eventually I settled here in Nimbin, probably the only place really suitable, but I wanted as little to do with the mainstream as possible. I scraped every bit of white paint off the old doors and windows I used building the house. I wanted everything natural as possible. I’d been living with dirt floors and no electricity for years, wanting nothing to do with the modern plastic capitalist world.

Nearly 40 years later now and with no protection from the weather, some windows are falling apart but me eye is always happy looking at natural wood.

I was on the Community Centre committee when the indefatigable Lady Diana’s relationship with Grant paid off. Whoever Grant is, and Janelle Saffin knows him too and that helped, he clearly has access to all the cash and $2.5 million for Nimbin to build a walking track was big news. Now three or is it four years later, and dozens of Lismore Council rules and regulations satisfied, it’s starting to take shape.

I can’t stand all the rules. Like there’s meant to be no risk? I’m sure they mean well protecting us ’n all, but it always looks to me like insurance companies are driving the agenda. Banks in other words. Temples to the money god.

My walking track would have been all natural paths like the thousands of miles I’ve walked barefoot in the Himalayas.

A concrete path is like, weird. So, I had mixed feelings about the Track but hung in like the stubborn mule I am.

The first meeting was a full reality check. Of course, they were never going to give the millions of dollars to us hippies in Nimbin to build our own track. It all had to happen through Lismore Council, it’s suddenly their gig! What was I thinking? And of course, it was going to be concrete for wheelchairs and they need to be able to pass each other, like cars, so double width.

Fortunately, then we had choices to make on furniture and fittings, voting on our favourites. Everyone agreed, wanting natural wood and stone, thank heavens! In all my planetary wanderings in the back of my mind I was always looking for a tribe of like-minded people. After a couple of years in Nimbin I realised I was standing in it.

I’ve known Lismore Council’s Martin Soutar for decades it seems; was he in their parks and garden department? He appears to be pretty straight, but knows Nimbin a bit and listens well, trying to fit our funny ways into their schedules.

My visions of little hippy shacks and blackfella campfires selling ganja and other trinkets along the tourist walk had no chance, however much the tourists would love it. I know from the Museum days that many visitors want to visit a commune and talk to the animals in their natural environment.

“This a peaceful nature walk Michael, we can’t replicate the rainbow serpent path of your Museum.” My long-time enemy OH&S was all over the planning meetings like a rash, but Martin knows them well and steered us through various rapids and waterfalls. Back in Lismore I imagine him locked in battle with mountains of paperwork juggling endless rules and regulations. Batting for us!

Plans are eventually accepted and drawn up. Wheelchairs can’t easily handle more than a 7 per cent incline for example. Bridges have to be built so wheelchairs passing each other at full speed in a hurry for the toilet can’t possibly have an accident.

“Every possible danger is considered, incredibly thoughtful of them actually Michael when you stop to think about it.”

Eventually the real work begins, but it never stops raining and finally last week Martin says come and have a look at progress. I’m late for the meeting and truly I was busy at home trying to stop the house falling apart, definitely in part because I took all the paint off which was protecting the windows.

Martin can hardly carry all the paperwork, but I can see immediately lots has happened, they’ve done heaps. And it looks terrific. The concrete path is not too wide like I feared. The beautiful trees planted by school kids 30 years ago are all still there. He’s made the path go around some other big trees to save them.

You can see now where tables and seating are going to go. Already some wonderful sandstone artwork is in place. Ross Wallace’s story-telling signage is under Martin’s arm. The old composting toilet I was so desperate to keep is still there. It was impossible for it to pass OH&S of course, but maybe it can be turned into a kid’s cubby house we think.

The whole Track is a huge project I now see, as we follow the path with quite a crew of workmen fitting in fresh formwork for the next concrete pour. They’re building a minor highway with bridges and gabions and it’s going to add a whole new dimension to our town. Instead of being a one-street village we are now two!

The main entry will probably now be from the pool carpark I think, but the Track then wends its way through the big trees, past an impressive amphitheatre that I can now see clearly since the grass is gone, and the pond for bird-watching.

Then around the Headers ground and back into a long walk through the forest of natives planted by John Blatch over the last 20 years, and on to Cecil Street. John will be responsible for the regen work that’s to happen adjoining the Track over the next few years. However, improving and managing Aquarius Park will be a community responsibility.

It’s a great walk and the wheelchairs can go about halfway before any steps appear. I’m impressed and seriously grateful we have Martin in charge as our go between the worlds. He’s taken it on very personally.

It’s also going to take a bit of maintenance as we own the land. A landcare group is forming and if you’d like to help, please leave a message at: ncci@nimbincommunity.org.au I’m in, and encourage other gardeners and lovers of nature to come along.

The official opening of the Walking Track is planned for September. It’s going to be a great and significant addition to our village.

This article appeared in The Nimbin GoodTimes, July 2024.