Following the closure of the majority of the Blue Mountains National Park on 6 April after a fatal landslip in Wentworth Falls, and predicted heavy rainfall in the coming days, Blue Mountains Council has closed many walking tracks and climbing areas in the City from today (7 April 2022).
Echo Point, Council campgrounds and a number of short walks and lookouts remain open.
Mayor, Cr Mark Greenhill, said: “Council has given careful consideration to the forecasted weather, the significant storm impacts on visitor facilities that have occurred this year and recent years, and the closure of the majority of the Blue Mountains National Park. Council has determined that in the interest of public safety a significant closure of Council’s visitor facilities is temporarily required.
“Council reserves often provide access to the National Park and Council continues to work with the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service to manage public safety in a coordinated manner, by assessing the recent impact on visitor facilities, addressing the risk to the public and the impact on tourism. We will continue to assess the situation and reopen facilities as soon as possible.”
The following Council-managed lookouts, short walks and campgrounds remain open:
Katoomba
Cahills Lookout
Cyclorama Point
Eagle Hawk Lookout
Echo Point
Hildas Lookout
Honeymoon Lookout
Kiah Lookout
Narrow Neck Lookout
Peckmans Plateau
Peckmans to Cahills loop walk
Prince of Wales Lookout
Queen Elizabeth Lookout
Leura
Elysian Rock Lookout
Leura Cascades Picnic Area and day use area
Olympian Rock Lookout
Sublime Point Lookout
Blackheath and Megalong Valley
Blackheath Glen Reserve campground
Hargraves Lookout
Mt Blackheath Lookout
Old Ford Reserve campground
Paul Harris Lookout
Springwood /Faulconbridge
Deanei Reserve
Glenbrook/Lapstone
Bluff Lookout
Chalmers Lookout
Elizabeth Lookout
Lennox Bridge
Lovers Walk firetrail
Marges Lookout
Olivet St to Lennox Bridge
Ross Lookout
Mt Wilson
Cathedral of Ferns Reserve campground
Du Faurs Rocks Lookout
Happy Valley/Cathedral Creek
Wynnes Rocks Lookout
Mt Victoria
Barden Lookout
Coxs Road
Henry Lawson Walk
Hourn Point
Lawsons Long Alley
Lockyers Track
Lockyers Trackhead campground Hartley Vale
Mt York day use area
Mt York Lookouts
Mt York Reserve campground
Mitchells Ridge Lookout
Mt Piddington
Sunset Rock
NPWS has closed the Blue Mountains National Park, except for Evans Lookout and Govetts Leap Lookout at Blackheath.
“The City has experienced significant rainfall that has resulted in increased and potentially unmanageable hazards associated with the use of Council and National Parks managed natural area visitor facilities,” Mayor Greenhill said. “This is highlighted by the recent rock fall and multi-fatality at Wentworth Pass, within the Blue Mountains National Park.
“Many of Council’s most visited lookouts, including Echo Point lookout, and walking tracks and campgrounds remain open. We will look to reopen the rest as soon as possible.”
The Blue Mountains has experienced multiple rockfalls and landslips since the natural disaster occurred last month.
“We are aware that Easter is traditionally a period of peak activity in the Blue Mountains, and for the sake of our local businesses, we want visitors to continue to visit our City.
“However, public safety is paramount and we will continue to monitor the situation and undertake the necessary investigations following predicted storms over the coming days, before reopening public access.”
Follow all Council walking track alerts and get information on closures at bmcc.nsw.gov.au/walking-tracks.
Current NPWS walking track alerts can be seen here: https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/.
