Leura Cascades will open from the June long weekend for pedestrians and cyclists.
From 11 June 2021, the lower picnic area will be partially open. Cars will still not be permitted to enter the Cascades until further work repairing the culvert on Cliff Drive has been completed. This is expected to be finished in 2022.
Leura Cascades was closed in February 2020 following a one-in-50-year rainfall event that resulted in a substantial landslip above Cliff Drive, and which damaged the picnic areas and walking trails.
Blue Mountains Mayor Mark Greenhill said this was a long awaited good news story for residents and visitors alike.
"The process of repairing Leura Cascades has been a long, complicated and expensive one and I want to thank the Council staff who have worked diligently to make those repairs, and the community for their patience throughout the process.
"It feels like every second week I've been talking about unprecedented events and asking for understanding and patience from our community while Council works to reopen areas. That's because since the beginning of 2020 we've had four major, one-in-100 or one-in-50 year events, each of which have left deep scars in our community - physical, economic and emotional.
"Flooding in both February 2020 and March 2021 left extensive damage to Council's natural area infrastructure, including Leura Cascades, as well as to local roads.
"The clean-up and repair in our City because of these events is an enormous undertaking, and it is stretching Council to capacity."
Work is ongoing on the upper picnic area and walking trail to the upper Leura Cascades, and they will reopen as soon as possible.
Download a map of the pedestrian and cycling access for Leura Cascades
Photo: Leura Cascades will soon reopen to pedestrians and cyclists.
