Wallaby Rd and Middle Ridge Rd in Ourimbah State Forest have been closed indefinitely to the public following ongoing issues in the area.
Protection supervisor at NSW Forestry Corporation, Pater Tarjanyi, said longstanding problems at the forest included dumping, road damage, burnt cars and serious environmental impact causing degradation of local waterways.
“To protect our environment and forest infrastructure, as well as supporting forest neighbours, we are closing Wallaby Rd and Middle Ridge Rd to the public indefinitely, effective from Friday, August 7,” he said.
“Barriers will be established to restrict access and help protect the values of Ourimbah State Forest.”
The closure means that Wallaby Rd and Middle Ridge Rd, linking Palmdale Rd with Red Hill Rd, will be closed to all types of vehicles and motorbikes.
Public access to Ourimbah State Forest will continue to be provided along Red Hill Rd, off Yarramalong Rd, or through Jilliby State Conservation Area along Forest Rd, off Bumble Hill Rd.
It is one of the state forests in the Watagan Mountains which has won numerous tourism awards for adventure tourism, including Central Coast Mountain Bike Tours and TreeTop Adventure Park, and Central Coast Mountain Bike Club operates biking trails under a Forest Permit arrangement.
The area has been harvested for timber in regrowth forests for more than 100 years.
Sue Murray