The Illawarra Fly Tree Top Walk could bring more than 700,000 visitors a year to the Southern Highlands when it opens in March, 2008.

Currently under construction on the Illawarra escarpment off Knights Road, Robertson, the Illawarra Fly Tree Top Walk will allow visitors to see the forest from up to 30 metres above the ground, with views to the Pacific Ocean from the suspended walkway and a 45-metre high tower.

Speaking to a Robertson Chamber of Commerce meeting on Wednesday, Illawarra Fly Tree Top Walk general manager Sean Haylan said the steel canopy walk would be one of only four in the world.

“You can walk through the rainforest wherever you like, but you can’t do it 25 metres above the forest floor,” he said.

“It’s a different perspective and very unique.”

The Illawarra Fly Tree Top Walk is owned by MFS Living & Leisure, which owns and operates the Otway Fly in Victoria, the Mt Hotham and Falls Creek Ski companies, the Melbourne Aquarium and Underwater World in Queensland.

The company has also acquired sites for suspended walks in the US and New Zealand.

Mr Haylan said the Otway Fly near the Great Ocean Road attracted an average 700,000 visitors a year.

The Illawarra Fly was expected to exceed this because of its proximity to Sydney, he said.

The Illawarra Fly Tree Top walk and visitor centre will initially employ 20 to 30 people in customer services, ticketing, food and beverage service, cleaning and outdoor roles including walk guides.

Plans for expansion include adventure trail, interpretative centre, night tours, and unique photo opportunities from the top of the tower.

Despite the large number of visitors expected, Mr Haylan said the Illawarra Fly would have a soft environmental footprint.

“Seven-hundred thousand people will walk through, but none of them will touch the forest,” he said.

Mr Haylan said he would work with local tourism groups and Robertson businesses to promote the Illawarra Fly and the region.

Mr Haylan’s presentation received a positive response from the meeting, although one resident expressed concern about increased traffic on Jamberoo Mountain Road.