National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Mudgee area manager, David Crust said that visitors to this part of Wollemi National Park are now enjoying the area’s much improved and enlarged facilities.

“We have developed eight new waterside picnic areas, together with a number of additional purpose-built camper trailers, van and tent sites to comfortably accommodate another 100 campers. At the same time visitors will still enjoy the main attraction of the area – its world class natural charm.

“Wide-ranging consultation with user groups, thoughtful planning, and careful implementation of the plan have ensured the best possible outcome,” Mr Crust said.

A major component of the works has been the construction of new access roads and a reconfiguration of existing roads to improve traffic flows during busy periods.

“The work has been completed by NPWS workers and local contractors and has also involved the installation of new toilets, picnic tables and BBQs. A heap of landscaping has also been undertaken across the whole site to improve amenity for visitors and restore degraded areas.

“Over 2500 native trees and shrubs have been planted across the site area, including 1400 in one weekend by keen volunteers from the Subaru and Recreational 4WD Club.

“Visitors have been enjoying these new facilities since the October Long Weekend. The Australian World Heritage Indigenous Network Culture Camp participants were amongst the first users of some of this new work, when recently more than 200 participants thoroughly enjoyed the facility improvements,” he said.

Mr Crust said that whilst most of the work had been completed, installation of signposting and interpretive displays were still underway. Landscaping would also take a few years to complete and mature.