A stretch of the Fernleigh Track from Redhead to Whitebridge has reopened less than a week after fire tore through more than 90ha of land skirting the popular shared path.
Council crews and contractors have worked throughout the past six days to assess the damage and remove fire-affected trees at risk of falling.
Lake Macquarie Mayor Adam Shultz said a total of 20 trees had been removed, including several mature eucalypts that towered beside the track.
"It has been a huge effort to get it all done so quickly and I'd like to thank everyone involved for their hard work," he said.
"We know how popular the Fernleigh Track is, and it's great to get it reopened in time for the weekend."
The track was closed between Station Street at Whitebridge and Liles Oval at Redhead since a bush fire broke out on 6 December.
"We're also so grateful to the NSW Rural Fire Service, Fire and Rescue NSW and other emergency services who helped contain the fire and prevented it from reaching homes or doing further damage to the Fernleigh Track and other important infrastructure," Mayor Adam said.
He urged track users to be extra cautious over the weekend and take heed of Council's shared pathway etiquette.
"After a week of closure, we're likely to have more people than usual using the track and checking out how it looks after the fire," Mayor Adam said.
"I'd just ask everyone to take care, slow down, stay to the left and think of other track users."
