$700,000 funding for Belmont Wetlands State Park
Media release | 21 May 2021
The NSW Government will provide $700,000 funding to support infrastructure upgrades and improve community enjoyment of Belmont Wetlands State Park.
Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Taylor Martin said the funding is being provided by the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment from its Crown Land Manager Recovery Support Program.
“This funding builds on the $286,505 recently allocated to Belmont Wetlands State Park under the Crown Reserves Improvement Fund,” Mr Martin said.
“Beach camping is extremely popular at the park so these planned improvements will help manage safety and health and environmental impacts.”
“The funding will provide much needed reserve improvements including establishing a specific area within the park for a primitive campground.
“It will allow for the redesign of the park entrance and an upgrade of the main road to the beach to improve road access and traffic safety.
“In addition, amenities will be expanded to ensure they have the capacity to meet visitor needs and support the Park’s Plan of Management.
Minister for Water, Property and Housing Melinda Pavey said the Crown Land Manager Recovery Support Program was supporting Crown land reserves to manage the impacts of COVID-19.
“This program aims to boost the social benefits of Crown reserves and support regional economic recovery post-COVID,” Mrs Pavey said.
“Belmont Wetlands State Park is growing in popularity as a recreation area recording a 45 per cent increase in visitations over the past nine months.
“The park recorded nearly 139,000 visitations in the last nine months as more people took staycations during COVID and enjoyed the park’s natural blessings.
“The park stretches over 554 hectares of bushland, sand dunes and wetlands providing a haven for walking, bird watching, cycling, surfing, fishing, camping, swimming, horse riding and four-wheel driving.
“It provides key habitat for wildlife including threatened species and migratory birds as well as diverse ecosystems for native flora and endangered ecological communities.
“The park also has a rich cultural heritage as the traditional lands of the Awabakal People.”
