Just in time for the October long weekend, Glenrock State Conservation Area (SCA) will open its new-look carpark.
The 47 spaces were completed by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) to improve accessibility and visitor safety at the much-loved Newcastle attraction.
The 554-hectare reserve attracts an estimated one million guests a year, including bushwalkers, mountain bike riders, surfers, horse riders, local residents and families.
It’s also home to more than 140 species of birds, echidnas, bats and gliders and conserves five threatened ecological communities and seven threatened plant species, including the rough double tail orchid and the white-flowered wax plant.
NPWS acting area manager Nick Godfrey-Smith said the project was completed on schedule, thanks to eight weeks of good weather.
“We’re thrilled that the new carpark off Scout Camp Road is ready to welcome visitors for the October long weekend,” he stated.
“Glenrock SCA is always popular during the school holidays, so the opening of this new carpark ahead of this busy time is a huge win for everyone.”
Before its construction, visitors to Glenrock State Conservation Area faced challenges when the existing Yuelarbah car park reached its maximum capacity, often resorting to illegal parking along Burwood Road.
This resulted in dangerous pedestrian behaviour and unacceptable risks to visitor safety.
“People no longer need to park along Burwood Road and instead have a safe place to unload bikes and other gear before entering the park,” Mr Godfrey-Smith said.
“There is now a dedicated coach drop-off bay for school excursions and a new bus turning area, creating a much safer environment for everyone at this spot.
“With the added capacity of the new carpark, we have also been able to install three accessible car spaces in the existing Yuelarbah carpark, which will support those in wheelchairs and those with adaptive bikes to access the Yuelarbah track.”
The first 600m of the Yuelarbah track to Flaggy Creek is a mix of sealed bitumen, timber boardwalk and compacted gravel pathway.
It’s suitable for wheelchairs, prams and visitors with limited mobility.
School groups are encouraged to reach out to the NPWS team on 4946 4100 before visiting Glenrock SCA.
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