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Environment and Heritage
Environment and Heritage

West Head Lookout safety improvements

The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service has improved visitor safety and access at West Head Lookout in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.

 

West Head, in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, is a popular destination for visitors. The West Head Lookout is one of Sydney's best vantage points, with views across Broken Bay to Barrenjoey Headland, Lion Island and the Central Coast.

The West Head Lookout was built in the mid-1960s. In early 2021, an assessment of the condition by a structural engineer identified structural and safety risks to visitors.

In 2022, the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service prepared designs to address safety and structural issues. Construction commenced on 25 May 2023 and the lookout reopened on 29 November 2023.

What prompted this project?

An engineering inspection was completed as part of the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service's Asset Management Program. This inspection revealed concerns about the structural stability of the lookout. Further investigation was undertaken, which led to the installation of temporary fencing in May 2021. A long-term solution was developed to remediate the lookout and reduce the risk to visitors.

What informed this project?

We worked with the late landscape architect Bruce Mackenzie, who designed the original Commodore Heights West Head landscape layout for architects RC Smith and Thompson in 1963, to deliver a design that balances visitor safety with preserving the lookout's original design intent and landscape values. We were fortunate and grateful to have Mr Mackenzie, one of Australia's most influential landscape designers, working on this project.

We sought other expert advice to inform and guide this project. This included:

  • structural and geotechnical engineering
  • heritage and environmental impact assessment
  • risk assessment
  • Aboriginal heritage
  • Building Code of Australia and access advice.

Design options considered the physical and visual impacts on the lookout, including character and views, as well as risk to visitor safety and our responsibilities for managing this risk.

The proposed safety improvements were designed to minimise the impact of balustrades on sight lines from the main lookout area, while the use of balustrades along the entry and exit points represent practical means of preventing falls in those areas.

Aerial view of a wide curved stone lookout on a thickly forested rocky outcrop over the sea
Aerial view of West Head Lookout
Image Credit: Drew Elliot/DCCEEW

Aerial view of the West Head Lookout

Updates

October 22, 2023
Update October 2023
The West Head Lookout safety improvements are on track for completion by mid-November 2023....
Sandstone retaining walls, including curved sandstone seating wall, at lookout with view over the water
September 03, 2023
Update August 2023
Read about West Head Lookout works progress, site management and access....
An image of the outer sandstone wall at West Head Lookout in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, highlighting the texture and color of the stone, showcasing the wall's integration into the natural environment.
July 11, 2023
Update June 2023
Get the latest update on works progress, site management and access....
A view of the site fencing at West Head Lookout, designed to enhance safety and protect the natural environment, with surrounding native vegetation visible in the background.
July 11, 2023
Update May 2023
The National Parks and Wildlife Service has completed the revised design for West Head Lookout to address safety and structural issues....
Signage at West Head Lookout on the recent lookout and safety upgrades informing visitors on the installation of temporary fencing and repairs in place.

More information

Contact us

National Park and Wildlife Service – Sydney North

Email: [email protected]