BLUE MOUNTAINS AND HAWKESBURY NATIONAL PARKS GET DISASTER FUNDING BOOST

The Albanese and Minns Governments are building our national parks back better in the Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury, making them more resilient to floods and natural disasters, with around $5 million in new funding.

In the Blue Mountains, there is $2.68 million is for two projects in the Blue Mountains and in the Hawkesbury, there is $2.44 million for a number of visitor precincts, through the jointly-funded Infrastructure Betterment Fund.

The Infrastructure Betterment Fund is focused on building back essential public assets, including in national parks, impacted by natural disaster events in 2021 and 2022. Federal Member for Macquarie, Susan Templeman, said the Albanese Government is committed to the ongoing recovery of disaster impacted communities.

“Our national park infrastructure took a battering during the fires, storms, floods and then the huge usage during COVID. These are all important projects for the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service which will not only repair damage but make improvements that put us in a better position for future extreme weather events,” Ms Templeman said.

“For instance, in the Hawkesbury the walking tracks in various precincts are made of low resilience materials, and this project focuses on improvements that will reduce the time and money to re-establish them if and when they are again affected in the future,” she said. The Leura Cascades walking track will receive $480,000 for upgrades to create a more resilient track.

“Increased flooding incidents have seen the walking track closed for significant periods of time. These upgrades will make the walking track fit for purpose and help it open up sooner after floods.” Ms Templeman said.

Dunphys and Muphys Glen and Thirlmere Lakes campgrounds will share in $2.2 million to upgrade access and improve drainage on vehicle tracks. The upgrades will ensure vehicles can safely access these sites and reduce closure periods after floods.

State Member for the Blue Mountains and Parliamentary Secretary for Environment, Trish Doyle, said “This joint State and Federal funding is great news and I’m thrilled that both our community and visitors to the region will benefit.

“We have some of the best walking tracks in the world right on our doorstep and this investment assists in essential recovery works, after the impacts of natural disaster events in recent years.

“I know our National Parks have been keen to get started on work and this will provide some much-needed funds to make that happen,” Ms Doyle said.

“By investing in better designs and better materials, we can make sure our national park assets are built to last, and better withstand future natural disasters,” Ms Templeman said. For more information, including the full lists of successful projects, visit the Infrastructure Betterment Fund website.