The new Lapstone Zig Zag Track and Top Points Lookout in the lower Blue Mountains has now officially opened, making significant heritage features more accessible.
Blue Mountains Mayor Mark Greenhill, Federal Member for Macquarie Susan Templeman and State Member for Blue Mountains Trish Doyle opened the upgraded area.
The upgrades to Lapstone Zig Zag and Top Points Lookout transformed the top length of Lapstone Zig Zag into an accessible, shared, 900-metre-long asphalt pathway that extends to Top Points Lookout.
The project also delivered an accessible, elevated platform at Top Points Lookout at the northern end of the pathway, which provides views over the Cumberland Plains.
Other improvements include a dedicated parking area in the Knapsack Street cul-de-sac providing five angled parking spaces, which includes two accessible parking spaces; improved landscaping next to the parking area and track-head, including a small rain garden for stormwater treatment; and seating at intervals along the pathway.
The Lapstone Zig Zag and Top Points Lookout accessibility upgrades are the latest in a series of improvements made to sites across the Scenic Eastern Escarpment and in Knapsack Reserve, including Marges and Elizabeth Lookouts, Elizabeth Lookout Track to Knapsack Bridge, Marges Lookout Track to Lennox Bridge, and Lovers Walk to Mitchells Pass (Whitton Memorial Place).
The work is part of the $2 million upgrade made to almost two-and-a-half kilometres of walking tracks along the Scenic Eastern Escarpment, funded under the Western Parkland City Liveability Program. This includes Council’s contribution of $535,000.
The Australian and New South Wales governments each provided over $800,000 for the project.
