Important heritage could be destroyed under plans for the Great Western Highway, according to the National Trust, which has added its voice to the chorus of disapproval over a proposal to duplicate the highway between Katoomba and Lithgow.
In its submission to Transport for NSW, the trust listed numerous historic homes and areas which would be put at risk by the plans.
These include the historic streetscape of Blackheath, the town's Gardens and war memorial and Blackheath cemetery, which contain 1840s graves of convicts who worked on the highway.
The Trust's director of conservation, Graham Quint, who wrote the submission, urged the state government to instead improve the railway.
"The Trust would argue that the upgrading of the rail line for additional freight and passengers may be a far more acceptable option with much less environmental and heritage impact."
Pointing out how climate change is producing more extreme weather events, including more intense bushfires and extended drought, he wrote: "Now is not the time to be proposing major expressway expansions when alternative more friendly environment and climate options such as rail transport are available."
The four Blackheath options are: Through the middle of town, a bypass over Centennial Glen, a bypass along Station St or a tunnel or series of tunnels.
The first option would "dramatically degrade the historic streetscape ... through the township", the trust's submission said.
The wide bypass would threaten Centennial Glen and Porters Pass Reserve Heritage Conservation area, which has been used by locals since the 1880s and is an enormously popular rock climbing region, attracting many international climbers. Mr Quint said even the tunnelling option raised concerns.
Station Street residents have already expressed outrage at any plan to rip up their street, which would mean the destruction of heritage-listed gems like the Station Master's House, Dover Hall and other old treasures.
Even option four - tunnelling - had its problems, Mr Quint wrote.
"While tunnelling may appear a more attractive option in terms of minimising impact on the Blackheath township and its adjoining bushland, there would be concerns about the location of the entry/exist portals and the siting of ventilation stacks."
Mr Quint said there were 24 places along the highway at Blackheath listed as items of environmental heritage by council.
Blue Mountains City Council has also opposed the plans, noting that bigger and heavier trucks coming from the Central West would have to drive through every village from Katoomba to Lapstone, on roads ill-prepared for such traffic.
