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Environment and Heritage
Environment and Heritage

Illawarra Escarpment Mountain Bike Project: update December 2024

The delivery of the new 70-kilometre sustainable mountain bike experience in Illawarra Escarpment is progressing well.

 

This site remains a closed construction site. Discover riding opportunities in the area at the City of Wollongong Bike City page.

Update on Kembla Trails 

  • More than 14 km of track are built. This is over 70% of 'Kembla Trails – Stage 1'.
  • Heli-lift operations delivered heavy construction materials to the site between October to December.
  • Our current priority is to install track features like bridges and fly-overs, and complete 'Kembla Trails – Stage 1' including signage.

We began removing introduced coral trees to improve biodiversity.

Engaging with the community

Over the past few months, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service staff continued to meet stakeholders and community groups about the new network, including several onsite familiarisations. Register your interest to receive progress updates on our project webpage.

Off-park supporting facilities

Wollongong City Council is continuing works to deliver off-park facilities that will support the mountain bike network. For more information visit the council webpage.

Priorities for 2025

  • Complete and launch 'Kembla Trails – Stage 1'.
  • Rehabilitate Mount Keira unauthorised trails.
  • Conduct planning and assessments for 'Kembla Trails – Stage 2' and 'Balgownie Trails'.
  • Start construction on 'Kembla Trails – Stage 2' and 'Balgownie Trails'.
  • A thickly treed escarpment juts up on the left with a a cornflower blue ocean in the background and at its base, a city by the sea which looks like a toy city in the wake of the escarpment
    View of the ocean from the Illawarra Escarpment
    View of the ocean from the Illawarra Escarpment
    Image Credit: John Spencer / DCCEWW
  • Hewn rocks lying flat along the curve of a dirt trail in the bush
    One of the completed tracks with rock armouring to improve trail sustainability and protect the environment
    One of the completed tracks of the Illawarra Escarpment mountain bike project, with rock armouring to improve trail sustainability and protect the environment
    Image Credit: Mat Kindred/ NPWS
  • A group of hatted people is just visible at the end of a dirt trail through thick clumps of native grass and slender trees
    A recent meeting onsite with stakeholders
    A recent meeting onsite with stakeholders as part of the Illawarra Escarpment mountain bike project
    Image Credit: Mat Kindred / NPWS

More information

For more information and to register for updates, visit the Illawarra Escarpment Mountain Bike Project webpage.

Contact us

Illawarra Highlands Area, NPWS

Phone: 02 4224 4188

Email: [email protected]