Blue Mountains News

Forming the last critical link of the Grand Cliff Top Walk, the three and a half-year long project was officially opened by Blue Mountains Mayor Mark Greenhill, Member for Blue Mountains Trish Doyle MP and Councillor Romola Hollywood.

With the full length of Darwins Walk reopened, visitors can now experience the Grand Cliff Top Walk from its starting point at Wilson Park, Wentworth Falls, and continue all the way through to Leura and then Katoomba.

These works were supported with $4 million through the jointly funded Australian and NSW Government’s Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, and $600,000 from Blue Mountains City Council.

The funding also provided for extensive repairs and upgrades to other iconic sections of the Grand Cliff Top Walk including the Prince Henry Cliff Walk at Leura which sustained two landslips, and at Gordon Falls Reserve.

Blue Mountains Mayor Mark Greenhill said, “With the lower section of the walk largely wiped-out by successive flooding, it was critical that renewed track infrastructure was built higher and drier, using fire and flood resistant materials.

The lower section of Darwins Walk features:

• 400m of elevated boardwalks with steel-grated decking allowing sunlight through to native vegetation.

• 700m of track re-alignment, moved away from previous high-floodwater levels.

• An innovative boardwalk footing system, significantly reducing environmental impacts.

• Sandstone steps and drains, providing resilience to bushfire impacts and supporting the heritage values of the walking track network.

“Limiting the impact of construction has been central to the design and delivery of these works, which has meant most of the materials were delivered in by helicopter and damaged bridges, boardwalks and steps were flown out,” Cr Greenhill said.

“The refurbishment of these walking tracks and their improvements has been of great benefit to the local community after it was hit hard by bushfire, flood and COVID-19.”

Federal Member for Macquarie, Susan Templeman MP said, “Congratulations to everyone who’s been involved with what’s been a particularly environmentally sensitive reconstruction and upgrade project. That includes the 62 local and regional businesses who had a hand in delivering this remarkable project.”

Member for Blue Mountains, Trish Doyle MP said, “As a keen bushwalker, it is wonderful to see the place where Darwin walked open again.  This historic walk at Wentworth Falls is a very special place, and of course the entry point for the iconic Grand Cliff Top Walk.

“The completed repairs and upgrades along that Grand Cliff Top Walk have seen a huge increase in use by residents and tourists alike, and that in turn supports our wonderful local businesses.”

A joint initiative between the Blue Mountains City Council and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Grand Cliff Top Walk project saw the two organisations work closely to renew and connect existing walking tracks and missing links, to create a 19-kilometre walking experience.

Council manages 40 per cent of the Grand Cliff Top Walk, and all Council managed sections of the walk are now open to the community.

For more information about the Darwins Walk upgrade and the Grand Cliff Top Walk, visit: here

Project facts:

Completion of the repair and upgrade works along the Grand Cliff Top Walk has been a major undertaking for Council, involving:

• 4kms of walking track repaired and renewed.
• 11 new bridges installed.
• 550m of new boardwalks.
• 86 suppliers and companies employed over the life of the project.