Work to improve accessibility at popular Central Coast whale watching spot Crackneck Lookout in Wyrrabalong National Park is set to commence in the New Year, under the care of a local civil contracting company working with the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast and Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch said local Aboriginal-owned company Goanna Services would oversee the works.
“I am pleased that a local firm has been awarded the contract, in a demonstration of how national parks contribute to regional economies,” Mr Crouch said.
“National parks generate $18 million and 74,000 jobs to the NSW economy every year with more than 75% of this activity outside Sydney, in rural and regional NSW.
“The works at Crackneck Lookout are all about making the popular spot more accessible and will include 60 carparks, bus parking, upgraded viewing areas, pathways, and picnic areas.
“These works come after upgrades last year to the walking track from the lookout to Bateau Bay.
“In the last financial year, the NSW Government has invested almost $1.8 million in visitor infrastructure for national parks in the Central Coast region.”
These works are part of the NSW Government delivering the largest investment in national parks history, with $450 million for more than 200 visitor infrastructure projects across the state.
The works include new wheelchair-friendly viewing areas, new seating and improved furniture and improvements to the carpark to create universal access to ocean views and picnic tables.
Carpark improvements will ensure better traffic flows, improve visitor safety, link nearby walking track networks, and improve stormwater management and drainage.
Works will begin in February and are expected to be complete in June, weather permitting.
Pedestrian access around the construction site will be available for people walking the length of The Coast Track, and the lookout will be closed during construction.