Chapter Three |
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GUR 8 - Illawarra Escarpment |
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| Sub-section |
| Start and finish |
Flat Rock Junction (Darkes Forest Road/ Princes Highway) to Kellys Falls (Stanwell Tops) |
| Distance |
8.0km |
| Grade |
3-4 |
| Main features |
- Illawarra Escarpment and Kellys Falls and Princess Marina Walk
- Stanwell Creek/Hargraves Creek/Wodi-wodi Track and Forest Walk Track
- Hindu Temple (Stanwell Tops)
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| Description |
From the Darkes Forest Road intersection - south along the shoulder of the Princes Highway over the Southern Freeway - 80 m turn left into Illawarra Coke Company unsealed road - 80 m - turn north 800m to Coalcliff Dam and intersection with track leading south for 1.0km to intersection with Forest Walk Track (walking only from here 2. km to intersection with Wodi-wodi Track which drops off Escarpment into Stanwell Park). From Coalcliff Dam - 1km north to (now empty) Stanwell Dam - great Stanwell Creek waterfall views over South Coast. 3.0km north along tracks and Annesley Ave to Kellys Falls. |
| Opportunities and constraints |
- Route from Flat Rock Junction to Stanwell Tops is a more interesting and safer walking/cycling route than along Princes Highway to Waterfall
- Creating a walking/cycling track network through this area would strengthen community support for proposed Illawarra Escarpment National Park - the most effective way of ensuring a sustainable future for this region
- The Illawarra Escarpment is one of world's three most mega-biodiverse areas with exceptional environmental and scenic values
- Potential for walking and cycling track through land owned by Illawarra Coke Company - heathland/hanging swamps/forest - future of coking plant in Coalcliff? - possible corporate sponsorship? Mining heritage landscape - dams/ servicing roads/ mostly good quality bushland
- Link through coal company land - would allow for making the Wodi-wodi Track into loop system - providing outstanding walking experience, Stanwell Loop (9-10 km) and Maddens Plains Loop (18 km)
- Possible cycling link from Helensburgh to Otford (along Rail Trails) could go through the (abandoned) Otford/Stanwell Park Rail Tunnel (the Mushroom Tunnel) - avoiding dangerous Hargrave Drive via Bald Hill
- Cycle Trail could become world's most outstanding - linking Sydney and Wollongong and Kiama (already existing from Wombarra to Kiama) - with green jobs potential
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| Actions |
- WCC/TC - negotiate with Illawarra Coke Company to plan and construct trail linking Flat Rock Junction to Kellys Falls (8.0 km) and seek corporate sponsorship and initiate earth repair projects
- SSC/WCC/RTA/TC - plan and construct shared-use trail from Waterfall to Wombarra and investigate feasibility of using abandoned Otford Tunnel
- WCC/ NPWS/ TC - facilitate formation of community trail care group ('Friends of Stanwell Tracks') - maintain and bush regenerate trail country
- NSW Government - establish Illawarra Escarpment National Park
- NSW Government - investigate purchase of section of the Tops Conference Centre land which adjoins escarpment and would allow for a continuous escarpment walkway through to ICC lands and on to Forest Walk/ Wodi-wodi Track
- WCC/ Illawarra Tourism / TC - upgrade signs and resting/vantage points on whole Stanwell trail network - Wodi-wodi, Forest Walk and Great Kai'mia Way
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| Priority |
B |
| Estimated cost |
$75k + Waterfall/Wombarra Trail |
| Key stakeholders |
WCC/ICC/NPWS/Illawarra Tourism/local community |
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Rationale:
Locating the route in this subsection is just outside the Georges River Catchment and avoids the Way having to follow the Princes Highway north to Waterfall. This route follows the existing network of walking tracks (Wodi-wodi Track and Bullock Track), fire trails and coal mining roads. No new track construction is required.
The route follows the Illawarra Escarpment, with its outstanding scenic and environmental values. Coal mining company has previously granted permission to create the existing walking tracks on their land.
The route would help to conserve this environmentally priceless area when post-mining future development potential is assessed. It may also strengthen the community push for a potential Illawarra Escarpment National Park.
The routes link Stanwell Tops and Kelly's Falls, continuing through to Helensburgh and connecting with the Woronora River Way. It has outstanding views and environmental values in this section as well. |
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• Lower Reaches 
Sutherland Shire Environment Centre | Suite 4 (1st Floor), 2-4 Merton Street, Sutherland NSW 2232