Blue Mountains News

The tunnel was temporarily opened on Saturday, 7 and Sunday, 8 December 2024 to let the community experience the potential of the tunnel as a historical, recreational and visitor experience, pedestrian and cycling link, and to show first-hand the impact of the flooding events of April this year.

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Following the popular open day events, Council is calling for the community’s feedback on the tunnel via a short online survey, open until Monday, 16 December 2024 and available at:here

Blue Mountains Mayor, Mark Greenhill said, “The level of interest in the Lapstone Hill Tunnel is truly astonishing. Neither the wet weather of Saturday or the heat of Sunday derailed the community’s plans to explore the tunnel, on foot or on a bike.

“I encourage everyone with an interest in the tunnel’s future to jump online and fill out the current community survey. Your feedback about the tunnel and how you would use it in the future will help inform our ongoing planning.

“The positivity about having the tunnel open, even temporarily, was infectious. We’ve heard very clearly that the community recognises the potential of the tunnel and wants a solution found that will see it opened on a permanent basis.”

Council is currently identifying funding opportunities to both remediate and revitalise the tunnel precinct. There’s significant and costly construction work that needs to take place on both on the east and west side of the tunnel, including the realignment of the creek.

The tunnel is owned and managed by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment,

Crown Lands. Since 2023, Council has undertaken the huge task of remediating the area, on behalf of Crown Lands, which included the removal of 1700 tonnes of rubbish and compost material and 1200 tonnes of sediment along the eastern trail cutting.

Ahead of the community open day events, further remediation work was undertaken along the eastern cutting track and at the tunnel’s western portal, where most visitors entered. This was to repair damage that was caused during April’s declared natural disaster storm event.