Almost 30,000 hectares of land on the western edge of the Blue Mountains is officially set to become the biggest regional ecotourism project in New South Wales featuring Australia's longest zip-line.
The Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area (SCA) has been gazetted in a bid by the state government to protect almost 100 rare or threatened species that call the area, near Lithgow, home.
At the same time, rock climbing, canyon walk, 4WD and mountain bike tracks and camping infrastructure are hoped to draw as many as 200,000 extra tourists to the region each year.
A process to gather expressions of interest from commercial ecotourism operators opened today, including the construction and operation of what would become known as the Wollemi Great Walk, as well as serviced accommodation.
It will be known as the "world-class Lost City Adventure Experience" and the first stage is expected to open in 2023.
The new park forms a link between Blue Mountains National Park, Wollemi National Park and the Gardens of Stone National Park by connecting state forest and crown land.
Environment Minister James Griffin said it was a "win-win" that "ensures it is protected for future generations".
The historic coal-mining region lost hundreds of jobs as the industry has gradually shut, with mines and power stations closing over recent decades.
This plan is slated to create about 200 jobs for the region.
The draft master plan has a vision for the park to protect and enhance significant cultural, natural and historic values, immerse visitors in nature and drive the visitor economy for Lithgow and surrounds.
The area is home to world-renowned rocky landforms, including pagodas considered to be a rare phenomenon, with the surrounding landscape known to host more than 100 plant and 319 animal species.
Many of them are at high risk of becoming extinct, including the koala, spotted-tail quoll and scarlet robin.
Within the park lies headwaters to rivers that feed into Sydney's drinking water catchment and endangered swamps.
Environmental and cultural conflict
Late last year $50 million was set aside by the NSW government but the proposal drew criticism from environmental groups.
The planned multi-day walk is an area that the managers — NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service — admitted in its statement of management intent had been damaged by unauthorised vehicle activity but said that "will be addressed".
Keith Muir directed the Colong Wilderness Foundation when it and other environment groups were calling for the protection status and low-impact tourism ventures.
He said mistakes had been made with the master plan.
He said the point of an SCA should be to preserve the area's "magical" values as they are.
"The area is already good enough. It doesn't need 'wow factor' zip-lines," he said.
"All it needs is basic infrastructure, lookouts, walking trails and good 2WD roads."
One of the roads he said had been left out was an access route for cars via Lithgow to ensure people were spending money in the area.
Deputy Premier Paul Toole said it would put protections in place for sensitive areas to prevent damage by higher visitor numbers by preventing people from entering them.
"They'll be able to experience it, they'll be able to see that from a distance," he said.
"For years people have been asking for this to be opened up."
Below the surface
The declaration does not affect existing or future underground mining activities, such as Centennial Coal's Springvale operation.
It is located beneath the park where operations are known to have damaged endangered swamps on the Newnes Plateau.
The company also has a proposal for another operation in the area, known as Angus Place West, which is going through the NSW government's State Significant Development process.
Mr Toole holds the mining portfolio and said it was about "striking the right balance".
In a statement, a Centennial spokesperson said it welcomed the master plan and "notes the contribution mining has made to the area's rich cultural story, and community more broadly".
The SCA's draft plan of management states it will introduce threatened species conservation programs, including programs within the threatened Newnes Plateau Shrub Swamps.
It is an area the NPWS has acknowledged is a "rich cultural landscape" significant to Wiradjuri people.
Mingaan Wiradjuri Aboriginal Corporation elder Aunty Helen Riley warned the plans went too far and put the landscape and its history at risk.
Mr Griffin said the government was committed to working with traditional owners during the establishment of the reserve.
