What's happening with the Tomaree Coastal Walk Master Plan and Review of Environmental Factors?
The Tomaree Coastal Walk Draft Master Plan and Draft Review of Environmental Factors were placed on exhibition in mid-September 2020 for 6 weeks, to provide an opportunity for the community to review and provide feedback on the proposed concepts.
Over 140 submissions were received providing both support for the project and suggestions on how the concepts could be improved. We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who took the time to review and comment on the plans. Your feedback is much appreciated.
National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has reviewed the submissions and is preparing a submissions report to outline the issues raised. The submissions are being considered while we finalise the master plan and Review of Environmental Factors.
We are continuing discussions with key stakeholders about the design, location and future construction of the walk. Further environmental and technical assessments will also be done in early 2021 as part of the detailed design stage for the walk.
The final master plan, Review of Environmental Factors and submissions summary will be displayed online and at the Tomaree Library and Community Centre in early 2021. We will notify you when they are available.
What will the final master plan provide?
The final master plan will provide a framework and conceptual ideas for the 20-kilometre Tomaree Coastal Walk connecting Tomaree Head to Birubi Point, and future visitor facility improvements in Tomaree National Park at Port Stephens.
The plan aims to balance conserving Tomaree National Park's natural and cultural values with future visitation demands, by creating experiences to better manage visitation in the park throughout the year.
Not all improvements proposed in the master plan will be able to be delivered as part of the Tomaree Coastal Walk project funding. However, the plan provides for long-term visitor facility improvements for the park, should further funding become available.
Once the master plan is finalised, we will prepare detailed designs to determine what will be delivered as part of the $6.7 million Tomaree Coastal Walk funding. The priority for construction is the 20-kilometre Tomaree Coastal Walk connecting Tomaree Head to Birubi Point, with improvements to the Tomaree Summit and Gun Emplacement precincts. We will continue to keep you informed as the project progresses.
Anyone who has not yet registered to receive project updates can do so at Tomaree Coastal Walk.
Next steps
- The master plan and Review of Environmental Factors will be finalised and available for viewing in early 2021.
- The detailed design planning will commence in early 2021 with initial construction work to commence in mid-2021.