New viewing platforms, a scenic elevated walkway around to Lighthouse Beach, improvements in recreation areas and heritage restoration are among 19 projects in the pipeline at Norah Head Lighthouse Reserve.
Norah Head Lighthouse Reserve Land Manager Board released its Draft 2023 Management Plan this week and it’s full of future and ongoing plans to strengthen the heritage and recreational value of the popular attraction.
The purpose of the management plan is to explore opportunities to protect and conserve the heritage and culture including the Aboriginal significance, as well as the environmental value of the reserve, while developing recreational and tourism opportunities to maintain the reserve’s financial sustainability and support the regional economy.
Projects in the 2023 management plan are in three groups – social, environmental and economic – and with $1.5M expenditure already from 2021 to the end of 2023, preliminary estimates indicate that a further $2.5M will be required to complete all the ongoing projects.
The social category contains projects such as turf maintenance, relocation of the Mariners Memorial, disability inclusion, tables and chairs in the reserve, viewing platforms with seating, an increase in car parking, pedestrian paths and informative signage across the reserve.
As the reserve is one of the prime spots on the Central Coast for whale watching it is planned to install two new viewing platforms with seating; one with a northern outlook with a panoramic view of Lighthouse Beach and the other to the east adjacent the lighthouse tower.
Another possibility is a platform in the old quarry area for a commanding view of the lighthouse and quarters.
One of the main attractions of the reserve is the nature trail and Lighthouse Beach loop walk but at high tides the walk from the stairs to the beach is difficult as the sea washes right up to the cliff.
Investigations have begun into the possibility of a elevated boardwalk from the top of the beach access stairs around to Lighthouse Beach which would also cater for disability access.
Relocation of the Mariners Memorial will provide more seating and appropriate disabled access for the increasing number of people attending the remembrance services held annually on the first Saturday in December.
The environmental category includes projects such as stabilisation of the northern embankment which took a battering in the severe storms of March 2021 causing a landslide; ongoing bush restoration and rehabilitation including weed eradication; protection of the cliff face from coastal erosion; maintenance, repairs and restoration at the Quarters including chimneys, verandahs and repointing joints in external walls; and restoration of the stables.
Stables are mostly being used at present for storage, however, there are plans to restore them to how they looked and operated in 1903 and feature them as another heritage exhibit in the reserve.
The economic group includes projects such as a new museum, café and shop opposite the car park, investigation of installing a roundabout and security gate at the Bush St entry, parking and footpath along Bush St, pathway lighting and reclaiming the quarry site to expand the green spaces for community use.
The 2023 Management Plan can be viewed online at www.norahheadlighthouse.com.au (under the About heading) and feedback can be submitted to The Norah Head Lighthouse Reserve Land Management Board via email at NHLRboard@outlook.com
Sue Murray