Walking on Plastic Bags

Disastrous bush fires followed by torrential rains and COVID over the last few years have caused immeasurable damage to many of the Blue Mountains tourist locations and the many businesses that augment and support them. In particular, avalanches, landslips and general erosion have closed scenic roads and walking tracks all over the place. Many wonderful sites remain, for the present, inaccessible. 

It is only now that large scale government funding from Canberra has started to catch up and make some impact upon the situation. The wonderful Leura Cascades had been virtually cut off both for walkers and drivers. The cliff drive which got visitors' cars to the area is at last (after more than two years) being cleared of debris while a new walking path has been opened, by-passing the danger areas.

One good news story is that much of the new track surface consists of panels, suspended from the bush land floor in an effort to minimise habitat impact. Even better, these long lasting panels have been manufactured from recycled plastics. 

There is much still to be done before tourist access fully revives but it is good to know that as it does, the facilities will be safer and more sustainable than ever before.

If folk are interested, I shall start systematically blipping the new works that are coming on line. Most of them are very encouraging .. for once..