The Great Blue Mountains Trail will be extended after Blue Mountains City Council secured more than $810,000 in state government funding for the ambitious project.
The money will go towards design and construction of a 450-metre safe pedestrian and bushwalking connection from Leura Cascades around Cliff Drive to Kiah Lookout. It will also cover the design of trail improvements to Scenic World.
A separate grant will partly fund the development of a central hub for sporting activities at Glenbrook’s Knapsack Reserve.
The two grants, awarded as part of the Metropolitan Greenspace Program and administered by the Greater Sydney Commission, are provided on a dollar-for-dollar basis.
“This funding, coupled with council’s contribution, means we will see a $1.6 million injection into two great attractions in our local government area,” said Blue Mountains mayor Mark Greenhill.
The trail is seen as essential in realising the full potential of the Scenic Southern Escarpment project.
- Cr Mark Greenhill
“The trail is seen as essential in realising the full potential of the Scenic Southern Escarpment project, as it will provide the off-road shared connection between popular sites and attractions,” Cr Greenhill said of the Upper Mountains project.
The mayor said the Glenbrook funding “will upgrade cycling and walking trails in the reserve, to provide improved access to new facilities and existing lookouts”.
The Great Blue Mountains Trail is an accessible pathway for walkers and cyclists which links key recreation and tourist attractions.
