Council will need to spend $150,000 a year, and $50,000 every year afterwards, if it takes on the management of Darks Common in Lapstone.
And there would be considerable “clean-up and capital costs” if they were to also manage Lapstone Tunnel, as part of the master plan discussions on the Eastern Scenic Escarpment.
Lapstone’s Alix Goodwin addressed council last week asking for an “urgent” response, saying the area had been dedicated in 1983 to the study of Australian flora and fauna. Mayor Mark Greenhill said it made “more sense” to see the state government [Crown Lands] pass management to council to monitor usage by different groups.
Council’s master plan on the eastern escarpment (Hawkesbury Heights to Lapstone and the Nepean River] is set for completion by mid 2018.
