Work to improve accessibility at Crackneck Lookout in Wyrrabalong National Park is set to begin in the New Year.
Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast and Member for Terrigal, Adam Crouch, said local Aboriginal-owned company Goanna Services would oversee the works at the popular whale watching spot , coordinating with the national Parks and Wildlife Service.
“I am pleased that a local firm has been awarded the contract, in a demonstration of how national parks contribute to regional economies,” Crouch said.
“National parks generate $18M and 74,000 jobs to the NSW economy every year with more than 75 per cent of this activity outside Sydney, in rural and regional NSW.
“The works at Crackneck Lookout are all about making the popular spot more accessible and will include 60 carparks, bus parking, upgraded viewing areas, pathways, and picnic areas.
“These works come after upgrades last year to the walking track from the lookout to Bateau Bay.”
Crouch said the NSW Government has invested almost $1.8M in visitor infrastructure for national parks in the Central Coast region in the last financial year.
NPWS Director Hunter Central Coast Kylie Yeend said the team was excited with the final plans and looked forward to working closely with the successful contractor next year.
“Our NPWS project team carefully planned the upgrades, considering both conservation and improving infrastructure at Crackneck Lookout,” she said.
“NPWS adjusted the concept design to reduce environmental impacts.
“It’s a careful balance between increasing accessibility for a popular outdoor space and protecting and conserving nature.
“Early next year we’ll publish details of where people can continue the coastal walk around the site, while the works are underway.”
The works at Crackneck will include new wheelchair-friendly viewing areas, new seating and improved furniture and improvements to the carpark to create universal access to ocean views and picnic tables.
Carpark improvements will ensure better traffic flows, improve visitor safety, link nearby walking track networks and improve stormwater management and drainage.
Works will begin in February and are expected to be complete in June, weather permitting.
Pedestrian access around the construction site will be available for people walking the length of The Coast Track, and the lookout will be closed during construction.
Source:
Media release, Dec 13
Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Adam Crouch