The spectacular Katoomba Falls night-lit walk is now open to the public.
The 1.3km walk gives visitors access to a unique, night-time viewing experience of outstanding natural features such as Orphan Rock, Witches Leap, Katoomba Falls and Katoomba Cascades. At certain vantage points visitors can also see the Three Sisters lit up.
The experience connects other previously lit areas, and has new lighting from the top of the Katoomba Falls Kiosk car park, around Reid's Plateau and down to the Duke and Duchess Lookout.
Blue Mountains Mayor Mark Greenhill said: "This project provides a wonderful new experience for locals - and visitors - to experience our World Heritage Area at night. I strongly encourage you to take your family and friends to see it."
Flood lights were originally installed at the site in 1932. Thirteen spotlights now highlight the main focal points at the site with another 390 individual lights illuminating the footpaths. All lighting now turns on at dusk and spotlights are turned off at 10.30pm, while path lights turn off at 11pm.
A council spokeswoman said all lights are energy efficient LEDs, adding the total connected energy load at the reserve is now well below that of the original lighting and requires substantially less maintenance and repairs leading to a significant cost saving for council.
A huge amount of planning and development work had also gone into creating sympathetic lighting to highlight spectacular natural features, without causing unnecessary light pollution for wildlife or local residents, she said.
Due to the usage and location, Reid Plateau has not been part of council's current solar roll out. However, as part of council's commitment to become a carbon neutral organisation by 2025, it is actively working towards a renewable electricity Power Purchase Agreement that will deliver 100 per cent renewable energy for all of council's electricity use.
The project began its preliminary phase of development six years ago with subsequent construction phases such as the installation of hand rails and lighting cabling taking place over the past 2-3 years.
The project was completed this year after the 2019/2020 bushfires caused delays. Workers who were installing lights in December 2019 had to evacuate as the Ruined Castle bushfire threatened Katoomba. The remediation of natural reserves after extensive damage occurred during bushfires, and then flooding in 2020, resulted in the project being completed only recently.
Watch the video: https://youtu.be/xkpSoKRmJ8Y.
A map of the walk can be downloaded at: https://www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/katoomba-falls-reserve-night-lit-walk
