Wattamolla Visitor Precinct is one of the most popular places in Royal National Park with visitation increasing significantly over the past few years driven by day trippers and those walking the Royal Coast Track. Visitor demand regularly exceeds the capacity of existing facilities, including picnic areas and car parks which is negatively impacting on the visitor experience and putting pressure on the natural environment.
National Parks and Wildlife Service prepared a Master Plan to address these challenges and to guide how it could better manage visitation whilst protecting the natural and cultural values of the place. This plan was placed on public exhibition in 2016 with over 150 responses received. The plan was finalised and approved in 2017.
The Master Plan identified and assessed visitor needs, the impact of increasing use on the natural environment and managing the sustainable use of Wattamolla. The plan guides the enhancement of the precinct to meet rapidly escalating visitor expectations and proposes a range of measures including traffic and parking upgrades, enhanced landscaping an improved waste water treatment system and public amenities. The implementation of the plan has been staged based on prioritised actions and cost.
A number of key upgrades proposed by the master plan have been completed. The onsite sewerage treatment system was upgraded in 2016-17, and a new amenities block completed in December 2019. Both these projects have made a substantial contribution to improving visitor amenity and environmental outcomes within the precinct.
What is happening at Wattamolla?
The next stage of upgrade works will commence on 26 April 2021 and will include:
- reconfiguration of the lower loop car park to create additional shaded open space for picnics, and provide for safer bus drop-off and accessible parking
- upgrade of picnic areas including new shelters and BBQs
- new viewing platform and safety fencing
- landscaping, pathways and tree planting that will improve the visual amenity of the site
- new drainage works that will help protect Wattamolla lagoon.
Once complete these works will provide a safer, more accessible and improved visitor experience.
The works are expected to take approximately 6 months to complete.
You can still visit Wattamolla
Access to Wattamolla beach and public amenities will remain open.
Alterative access through Wattamolla for the Royal Coast Track will be available. Please check the current alerts before you visit and pay attention to on site signage.
Park Connection bus
The Park Connections bus will continue to visit Wattamolla. The bus stop will move from the lower loop carpark to the first aisle of the terraced carpark near the amenity building. The new, temporary bus stop will be signposted.