Chapter Four |
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W4-A13 - Helensburgh Link |
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| Sub-section |
| Start and finish |
Waterfall to Kellys Falls (Stanwell Tops) via Helensburgh |
| Distance |
12.5km |
| Grade |
2-3 |
| Main features |
- Heathcote National Park - Lake Toolooma and Coutts Gully
- Garrawarra State Conservation Area - Wilsons Creek Dam
- Kellys Falls and Princess Marina Walk
- Sri Venkateswara (Hindu) Temple
- Symbio Wildlife Gardens Zoo and Fauna Park
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| Description |
S through Heathcote NP and section leased for Scout Camp Coutts on fire trail 108. Princes H/way shoulder for 100m to join Cawleys Rd. (closed to traffic) to Helensburgh Station. (Walking route heads S and W from Road looping around Wilsons Dam, rejoins shared route at The Ridge). The Ridge, Helensburgh Park, streets/tracks to Cemetery Rd, Walker St. and Kellys Falls. |
| Facilities |
- Waterfall Café
- Waterfall and Helensburgh Rail Stations
- Helensburgh Shopping Centre
- Helensburgh Park - Playground, BBQ, Picnic, Toilets.
- Helensburgh Caravan Park
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| Opportunities and constraints |
- Cross community partnership between SSC and WCC LGAs
- Improve Access Control points along Princes Highway to deter unauthorised 4WDs, illegal trail bikes, dumping, etc, encouraging legitimate access to Garrawarra SRA
- NPWS interested in acquiring riparian lands at Kellys and Gills Creeks - maintaining wildlife corridors and potential to formalise walking track between Walker Street and Kellys Falls
- Safety issue - 80kph speeds on Walker Street with no shoulder for 800m
- Investigate potential of existing route on private land between Cemetery Road and Temple Road as alternative to Walker Street
- Economic benefits to Helensburgh from increase in visitors
- Rail link from Helensburgh to Waterfall completes a loop
- Partnership with SCMB to use tracks as focus for Hacking River catchment health/biodiversity/cultural education
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| Actions Required |
- SSEC/SSC/WCC - liaise with NPWS and NPA re: suitability of routes and consent to add GKW emblem to existing signage
- NPWS/WCC/Energy Australia - upgrade gates and barriers at ACPs along Princes Highway. Consider surveillance cameras
- SSEC/WCC - negotiate access easement/VCA with land owner behind cemetery
- NPWS - acquire and develop POM for Kellys Creek area
- WCC - install Way display panel in Helensburgh Park
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| Priority |
B |
| Estimated cost |
$50k + acquisition costs |
| Stakeholders Community |
Waterfall PS, Helensburgh Schools, Health and Youth Centre, Bush Fire Brigade, Helensburgh Progress Assoc., Masonic Centre, Helensburgh Workmens Club, Churches, Landcare Groups, Illawarra Escarpment Coalition, NPA |
| Agency/Land Manager |
SSC, WCC, NPWS, SCMB, DIPNR, SRA, SCA, Sydney Water, Dharawal LALC, Illawarra Tourism |
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Rationale:
In order to avoid crossing the Special Area lands managed by Sydney Catchment Authority at the head of the Woronora, and to avoid using Princes Highway, the route detours into the Hacking River catchment.
Fire Trail 108 follows a utility easement through the southern section of Heathcote National Park offering sweeping views of Lake Toolooma and Waterfall. Cyclists taking the Woronora Dam Road option (W4-C4) can rejoin the Way at the junction of Princes Highway and Cawleys Road, or carry on along Princes Highway to Waterfall (W4-C5).
Cawleys Road provides a traffic free shared route through the undulating topography of Garrawarra State Conservation Area as far as Helensburgh, although initially the route is blighted by refuse dumping and evidence of burnouts. A walking only alternative route is identified, using existing management and walking tracks to explore Garrawarra SCA, including Wilsons Creek and Dam.
Around Helensburgh the options are limited by private land ownership constraints, and a lack of existing off-road routes. It is recommended that a walking route alternative to Walker Street be pursued - either on the west side requiring land owner consent/compensation; or the east side, where NPWS may acquire land. |
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• The Glen 
Sutherland Shire Environment Centre | Suite 4 (1st Floor), 2-4 Merton Street, Sutherland NSW 2232