Blue Mile Continues to Move Forward

Flagstaff Hill Lookout Walk and Viewing Platform

Whale Spotting from Flagstaff Hill

Dramatic rocky headland, green grass, powerful crashing waves, the salt spray filling your nostrils – breathe it in and soak up the views on the new Flagstaff Hill Cliff Walk.

The 230m walking path and viewing deck were officially opened on Wednesday, 21 July 2010, providing a formal connection to the iconic lighthouse and Flagstaff Hill.

The $650,000 pathway, lawn terraces, seating and viewing deck project was designed and constructed by Wollongong City Council with support from the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water (DECCW).

General Manager, David Farmer said Wollongong’s Flagstaff Hill Cliff Walk continues the existing walkway and series of viewing platforms already constructed along the Blue Mile as part of the Revitalisation of the City Centre.

This project is an important part of the Blue Mile Masterplan, which details the enhancement of the coastal foreshore of our city.

The Blue Mile was the result of an extensive community engagement strategy that was endorsed by Council in November 2007.

The walk to the viewing deck is a great spot for whale spotting during the whale migrating season.

Council would like to thank DECCW for their contribution of $257,000 to the Flagstaff Hill Walk through the Coastal Management Program.

The State Government also provided financial assistance through the Coastal Management Program for a number of other Blue Mile projects along City Beach, Brighton Beach and North Beach.

Walking the new steps	The crew admiring their good work	Posing for the media

Upgrades to the East Side of Cliff Road

The upgrade of the east side of Cliff Road between Georges place (above the Continental pool) to North Beach is almost complete and open to the public.  The upgrades include a new wider footpath, high-quality fencing, improved lighting and new stairs to Battery Park.
 
The new work completes the link between North Beach and Belmore Basin, providing the community with a safe well-lit path with spectacular views of the coastline and the harbour. In particular, the view from the new stairs accessing the southern end of Battery Park is simply beautiful.  The works also included the installation of landscaping uplights to highlight the magnificent Norfolk Island pines that are part of the streetscape along Cliff Road.
 
The improvements will provide additional viewing locations for community events such as Australia Day and the New Year's Eve fireworks.
 
It is only when we compare photographs of the new works to the previous condition of the footpath that we realise how much the area has now been improved.
 
We have received a lot of positive feedback on the last couple of years work and we are sure these latest improvements will draw even more locals and visitors to the city’s foreshores. 
 
The second stage of the Cliff Road works commenced February 2010 and was complete July 30, 2010.  These works could not progress without the $2.9 million grant funding through the Federal Government’s Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program.  We are extremely grateful to the Federal Government for their contribution. The overall project costs for the upgrades from Belmore Basin to North Beach are 3.4 million. 
 
An official opening of the walkway will be held at the start of Spring in early September.
 
Stage 1- approximately 320 m of new footpath plus a viewing platform
Stage 2 - approximately 530 m of additional new footpath plus stairs into the Battery Park
Total length of new footpath from Belmore basin to North Beach is approximately 850m.