Major road upgrades are set to begin to improve access to the Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area and support the delivery of the $49.5 million visitor infrastructure program over the coming years.
The first stage of work to repair drainage and improve safety begins tomorrow on State Mine Gully Road, which is the park’s main entry road.
Weekday closures will be in place until early August.
Alternative access to the Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area and Glow Worm Tunnel Visitor Precinct will be available via Old Bells Line of Road.
Road repairs have already been completed on Glow Worm Tunnel Road, Long Swamp Fire Trail and Baal Bone Gap Trail as part of an ongoing program to improve visitor access and safety, with works to continue on other access roads over the coming months.
Visitors are reminded to check before they travel for the latest information and plan their trip in advance.
Quotes attributable to ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Parks and Wildlife Service Blue Mountains Branch Director David Crust:
‘Road upgrades are an important part of the visitor program to provide safe and sustainable access.
‘The Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area is an area of remarkable beauty and we are committed to making it as accessible as possible for locals, visitors and the community.
‘We’re taking a staged approach to planning and delivery to open up new visitor precincts as soon as possible, but that also means closures will be in place in key visitor precincts while work is underway.
‘The Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area visitor infrastructure program will continue to be delivered over the next 24 months, including a 35 km mountain bike network, shared-use cycling and walking trail, family campground and walking tracks.
‘Work is also continuing on the Gardens of Stone Multi-Day Walk and Wollemi Great Walk to deliver a network of iconic multi-day walks to connect Lithgow to the Glow Worm Tunnel precinct and beyond.’
