An historic railway tunnel in the Blue Mountains will soon be open to the public for the first time in 130 years following new funding to transform it into a tourist destination.
Penrith MP Stuart Ayres announced today [Friday, July 2] the NSW Government had allocated a further $2.5 million from its COVID-19 stimulus program to prepare Lapstone Hill Tunnel at Glenbrook to be used for recreational purposes.
"This recent funding is on top of the $2.1 million which had already been invested in the project and will help bring to life community plans to transform the tunnel into a cycleway, walking trail and heritage tourist attraction," said Mr Ayres.
"Once completed, the tunnel will link Glenbrook and Lapstone villages with Leonay and Penrith's Great River Walk."
Blue Mountains mayor Mark Greenhill said he expects work to commence this year.
"Our team has been negotiating this behind the scenes for some times with NSW planning and public spaces minister Rob Stokes' department and, frankly, this is a coup," he said
"The money we now have will see a long-held dream to reopen the tunnel become a reality. This will be an absolute attraction for cyclists, walkers, rail enthusiasts and historians alike.
"Lapstone Hill Tunnel is a significant historic structure and has great potential for adaptive re-use. In particular, re-activation for public use that supports the amenity, economy and liveability of the Lower Blue Mountains."
Ward 4 Liberal councillor Brendan Christie also welcomed the announcement.
"I have been advocating for this project for years and couldn't be happier that this dream will become a reality. This has been a joint effort from council and the NSW Government that has truly been community led. The Lapstone tunnel project will deliver a much needed tourism boost to our local businesses and be a much loved asset to our residents," he said.
Minister Stokes said the construction work on the tunnel would also help stimulate the local economy.
"This restoration supports local jobs and the economy by providing work for tradespeople and material suppliers," he said.
"The COVID-19 stimulus funding for Crown land not only helps create better public spaces such as the Lapstone Tunnel but, importantly, provides opportunities that will support local economies."
READ MORE:
David Tritton of the Blue Mountains Cycling Safety Forum has previously described the reopening as "a really exciting transformational project, particularly for the Lower Blue Mountains, because it's creating not just an active transport cycling network but also a rail heritage circuit".
"It won't just be an extension for public recreation and transport but also bring in tourism as well," he said.
The 660-metre long brick railway tunnel, which was originally constructed in 1891 and then shut in 1913, was used for mustard gas storage in World War II amid fears of a foreign invasion.
