Blue Mountains Echo Point upgrades near completion

Blue Mountains City Council advises that works commenced in October 2019 to redevelop Echo Point are nearing completion.

The upgrades include:

• a new gathering space (amphitheatre)

• a new Prince of Wales Lookout, and

• an accessible, night-lit boardwalk connecting the lookouts, amphitheatre and Council’s accredited Visitor Information Centre.

While work has continued at the site behind construction hoarding, the popular lookout has seen unprecedented action.

Blue Mountains Mayor Mark Greenhill advises “in early December 2019 we had thousands visit Echo Point Lookout to see the remarkable sight of bush fires burning in the Ruined Castle fire.

“Then in March this year, Council had to take the extraordinary step of closing Echo Point Lookout, and our Visitor Information Centre, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Redevelopment at the site is now nearing completion and Council is looking forward to removing the construction hoarding and reopening the precinct, fully, for visitors.”

Council received matched funding from the Federal Government’s National Stronger Regions grant program for the project. A Federal Government Safer Communities Grant also funded CCTV and other security upgrades, including bollards and evacuation signage, at the site.

Mayor Greenhill adds “a highlight of the upgrades is the creation of a gathering space that has been designed in consultation with Gundungurra and Darug Traditional Owners, to provide an impressive and immersive experience for all those who visit the site.

“The place we now call Echo Point has been of great significance to Gundungurra and Darug people for time immemorial, and is linked to creation stories which connect it to other sacred stories across the continent. It is also one of the most visited sites of Aboriginal cultural significance in Australia.

“We want the special value of this place to be appreciated by everyone, so that they take away a deeper appreciation of the complexity and beauty of Aboriginal culture.

“It is also great that we will be able to reopen the Prince of Wales Lookout that has been closed for 10 years, and provide a 140-metre accessible, night-lit elevated walkway.”

It is anticipated that the upgrade will be completed by the end of August.

Image: An accessible elevated walkway, overlooking The Three Sisters, is one feature of the soon-to-be completed upgrade at Echo Point. Courtesy of Blue Mountains City Council