GOVETTS LEAP DRAFT VISITOR PRECINCT PLAN
ISSUE A 13/05/2020 JUNE 2020 GOVETTS LEAP DRAFT VISITOR PRECINCT PLAN
Many popular visitation areas are situated on the escarpments overlooking the Grose Valley, Blackheath, and the Jamison Valley, from Wentworth Falls to Katoomba and these attract both local and international visitors.
Govetts Leap is located at Blackheath and is within the Blue Mountains National Park (BMNP) which is part of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area (GBMWHA). The lookout is on the escarpment edge overlooking the Grose Valley wilderness area, with the site being accessed by both car-based visitors, escarpment walkers and local pedestrians.
Although the site has striking views, many of the amenities are in need of repair or replacement to better suit the needs of visitors and reflect the unique nature of the site.
The Govetts Leap Draft Visitor Precinct Plan aims to redevelop Govetts Leap to become a world class visitor precinct, whilst protecting world heritage values, creating a lookout that is cherished by local residents and leaves a lasting impression on both domestic and international visitors.
The Govetts Leap Draft Visitor Precinct Plan has been prepared to be submitted with (and in accordance with) the Plan of Management (hereafter referred to as PoM) Amendment (prepared by National Parks & Wildlife Service).
DISCLAIMER This report was prepared by CLOUSTON Associates in good faith exercising all due care and attention, but no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made as to the relevance, accuracy, completeness or fitness for purpose of this document in respect of any particular user’s circumstances. Users of this document should satisfy themselves concerning its application to, and where necessary seek expert advice in respect of, their situation.
The views expressed within are not necessarily the views of the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) and may not represent DPIE policy. © Copyright State of NSW and the Department of Planning, Industry VIEW FROM GOVETTS LEAP LOOKOUT and Environment INTRODUCTION JUNE 2020 2 GOVETTS LEAP DRAFT VISITOR PRECINCT PLAN
PULPIT ROCK LOOKOUT PULPIT ROCK TRACK POPES GLEN TRACK
JUNCTION ROCK TO BLUE GUM WALKING TRACK FAIRFAX HERITAGE TRACK GEORGE PHILLIPS LOOKOUT
PoM Amendment – Visitor Precinct Boundary GOVETTS LEAP LOOKOUT RODRIGUEZ PASS WALKING TRACK WILLIAMS TRACK BLUE MOUNTAINS PoM Amendment – Visitor BRIDAL VEIL FALLS HERITAGE CENTRE Precinct Boundary TO BE UPDATEDBARROW LOOKOUT BLACKHEATH
GOVETTS LEAP ROAD
BRAESIDE ROAD
CLIFF TOP TRACK RODRIGUEZ PASS WALKING TRACK EVANS LOOKOUT EVANS LOOKOUT ROAD
GRAND CANYON WALKING TRACK N
THE SITE AND CONTEXT JUNE 2020 3 GOVETTS LEAP DRAFT VISITOR PRECINCT PLAN
TOILETS NOT UNIVERSALLY UNDER UTILISED ACCESSIBLE AREA POOR CONNECTION BETWEEN UPPER AND LOWER LOOKOUTS HAPHAZARD ARRANGEMENT ESCARPMENT EDGE AND FENCING IN OF BUILDINGS & NON- POOR CONDITION FUNCTIONAL SHELTERS BOLLARDS CREATE POOR ARRIVAL UNSTRUCTURED SPACE LARGE ASPHALT AREA WITH RANDOM POSSIBLE VISUAL AND ACOUSTIC PARKING (80 VEHICLE CAPACITY) IMPACTS OF DEPOT PICNIC AREA OPEN AND RAISED PICNIC AREA UNINVITING. FURNITURE IN POOR CONDITION
STRONG EXISTING VISTAS
FAIRFAX HERITAGE TRACK
PoM Amendment – Visitor POOR PEDESTRIAN ACCESS Precinct Boundary FROM EXISTING HERITAGE CENTRE ENTRANCE TO FAIRFAX TRACK EASY TO MISS
PoM Amendment – Visitor Precinct Boundary NO PEDESTRIAN ENTRANCE TO HERITAGE CONNECTION CENTRE UNCLEAR
CONFUSING SENSE OF ARRIVAL
N
SITE ANALYSIS JUNE 2020 4 GOVETTS LEAP DRAFT VISITOR PRECINCT PLAN
BUS DROP OFF
SHORT BUSH WALK 3 PROTECT VIEWS TOWARDS EXPERIENCE THE SITE MAXIMISE VIEWS ENSURE LOOKOUT IS A SAFE AND ENGAGING MOVEMENT 4 USE VEGETATION TO SCREEN DEPOT AND ACTIVITY SPACE 2
1
100 PARKING SPACES 1 NEW PARKING AREA PoM Amendment – Visitor BETTER UTILISE PICNIC Precinct Boundary 2 SPACE AND FACILITIES BETTER PEDESTRIAN CREATE SENSE OF ACCESS TO LOOKOUT ANTICIPATION CONNECT LOOKOUT TO 3 AMENITIES OPTIMISE PARKING AND CIRCULATION RELOCATE PARKING FROM INCREASE TRACKHEAD ENHANCE PEDESTRIAN ACCESS CURRENT LOCATION TO VISIBILITY MAXIMISE PEDESTRIAN 4 SPACE AND VIEWS AND IMPROVE UNIVERSAL PoM Amendment – Visitor UPGRADE INTERSECTION ACCESS TO LOOKOUT AND Precinct Boundary FACILITIES
INCREASE VISIBILITY OF HERITAGE CENTRE RETAIN AND ENHANCE BUS DROPOFF
ENSURE ENTRY ZONE CREATE BETTER ENGAGES VISITORS ON SENSE OF ARRIVAL ARRIVAL N
SITE STRATEGIES JUNE 2020 5 GOVETTS LEAP DRAFT VISITOR PRECINCT PLAN
2 LOOKOUT OBELISK
RELOCATE THE EXISTING PARKING AWAY FROM THE ESCARPMENT EDGE TO IMPROVE THE VISITOR 1 EXPERIENCE AND INTERACTION WITH THE SPECTACULAR VIEWS AND SETTING
EXPAND THE OPEN SPACE OPPORTUNITIES ON 2 THE EDGE OF THE ESCARPMENT TO IMMERSE VISITORS IN THE NATURAL EXPERIENCE
3 UTILISE EXISTING ONE WAY LOOP ROAD
1
3
LOOKOUT STRATEGIES JUNE 2020 6 GOVETTS LEAP DRAFT VISITOR PRECINCT PLAN
NEW PARKING REVISED TO 90 DEGREES (21 PARKING SPACES - 2 NEW) NEW UPGRADED CONCRETE PATH MORE VISIBLE TO LOOKOUT ENTRY TO FAIRFAX TRACK
UPGRADE LOOP ROAD COURTYARD CONNECTION TO IMPROVED LOCAL LOOKOUT ROAD TO DEPOT BUS STOP
GATE CONTROLS IN & OUT UPGRADE UPGRADED JUNCTION HERITAGE CENTRE MIXED VEHICLE / SAFE ZONE FORECOURT WITH PEDESTRIAN PRIORITY NEW PATH CONNECTIONS TO HERITAGE CENTRE BUS HOLDING BAYS HERITAGE CENTRE ENTRY MARKERS DISABILITY PARKING SPACE
UPGRADED JUNCTION MIXED VEHICLE / SAFE ZONE WITH PEDESTRIAN PRIORITY
KEY ENTRY FEATURE PIERS IN IRONSTONE PEDESTRIAN PATHS
ROADS GOVETTS LEAP ROAD UPGRADED HERITAGE FROM BLACKHEATH & CENTRE AND FAIRFAX EXISTING ENTRY SIGN TRACK POINTS 1:750 @A3 N
CONCEPT PLAN - HERITAGE CENTRE JUNE 2020 7 GOVETTS LEAP DRAFT VISITOR PRECINCT PLAN
PEDESTRIAN MOVEMENT KEY PEDESTRIAN PATHS
UNIVERSAL ACCESS RAMP PEDESTRIAN PATHS TO TOILETS +978 ELEVATION LEVELS UNIVERSAL ACCESS PATH EXISTING TOILETS TO GEORGE PHILLIPS RETAINED LOOKOUT NPWS PARKING PAVED LOOKOUT UPGRADE /ADAPT OBELISK LOCATION RETAINED ALL EXISTING +970.5 SHELTERS PICNIC LAWN UNIVERSAL ACCESS RAMP TO LOOKOUT +970.7 NEW AMPHITHEATRE / +971.5 EDUCATIONAL SPACE SEATING STEPS
LEVEL LAWN GATHERING AREA
PAVED SHARED ZONE
BUS DROP OFF +972 PICNIC SPACE POTENTIAL COFFEE CART SPACE +972.5 4 DISABLED PARKING SPACES
EDGE OF EXISTING RAISED PICNIC AREA NEW EDUCATIONAL SHELTER
STEPS TO/FROM PARKING SHRUB / TREE PLANTING 1:3 EMBANKMENT
PARKING AREA +978
PATH TO ADDITIONAL 1:400 @A3 PARKING N
CONCEPT PLAN - LOOKOUT PRECINCT JUNE 2020 8 GOVETTS LEAP DRAFT VISITOR PRECINCT PLAN
KEY THEMES • Aboriginal Cultural Heritage WAYFINDING • Historic Heritage • Cradle of Conservation • World Heritage Values” (flora, fauna, geology).
HISTORICAL IMAGES AND ELEMENTS INTERPRETATION • Wayfinding signs with strong INTERPRETATION emphasis on graphics and minimal text • Interpretation information will encourage visitors to return to WAYFINDING the Heritage Centre for further WAYFINDING information • Digital interaction option WAYFINDING
WAYFINDING INTERPRETATION
WAYFINDING
KEY
INTERPRETATION
WAYFINDING HERITAGE CENTRE
INTERPRETATION & WAYFINDING JUNE 2020 9 GOVETTS LEAP DRAFT VISITOR PRECINCT PLAN
SERVICE VEHICLE ACCESS
EXISTING PARKING REMOVED
DISABLED PARKING VEHICLES IN / OUT
PARKING: 100 VEHICLES IN / OUT BUS LAYOVER AREA
ONE WAY IN PoM Amendment – Visitor Precinct Boundary
BUS AND CAR ACCESS PoM Amendment – Visitor Precinct Boundary
LOCAL BUS STOP LOOP ROAD CONNECTION ONE WAY OUT
BUS HOLDING AREA PoM Amendment – Visitor Precinct Boundary
GOVETTS LEAP ROAD
VISITOR TRAFFIC AND CIRCULATION PLAN JUNE 2020 10 GOVETTS LEAP DRAFT VISITOR PRECINCT PLAN
EXISTING PARKING REMOVED
2 2 4x DISABLED CAR SPACES VEHICLES IN /OUT VEHICLES IN /OUT 4 4 EXISTING HEADLAND OUTLINE 8 4 VEHICLES IN /OUT VEHICLES IN /OUT 8 4
13 VEHICLES IN /OUT 4 VEHICLES IN /OUT 16 4
VEHICLES IN /OUT 11 BUS LAYOVER 3 VEHICLES IN /OUT 11 3 PARKING: 100 SPACES
EXISTING GOVETTS EXISTING GOVETTS LEAP ROAD LOOP LEAP ROAD LOOP
NEW PARKING PRINCIPLES JUNE 2020 11 GOVETTS LEAP DRAFT VISITOR PRECINCT PLAN
3 4 1 1 2
2
VIEWPOINT LOCATIONS
3 4
LANDSCAPE PERSPECTIVES JUNE 2020 12 GOVETTS LEAP DRAFT VISITOR PRECINCT PLAN
Materials
Structures
Walls & Seating
Signage & Interpretation
Planting
MATERIALS & FINISHES - HARDWORKS JUNE 2020 13 GOVETTS LEAP DRAFT VISITOR PRECINCT PLAN
VISITATION EXPERIENCE
ENCOURAGE VISITORS TO LINGER & CREATE A MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE EXPLORE • Ensure space for visitors to move safely around the site, • Ensure that increased parking is provided in a safe way to with parking set back from the main lookout accommodate an increase in visitors to the site • Maintain an unobstructed lookout so that the view is • Provide a range of spaces for people to engage with apart celebrated from the main lookout • Provide for a range of experiences such as community • Interpretation that engages with visitors as well as events and educational opportunities, as well as tourists encourages further exploration at the Heritage Centre
• Wayfinding that gives visitors a better sense of the surrounding trails for those who may be uncertain or have limited experience with the bush
ACCESSIBILITY HERITAGE PROVIDE ACCESS AND ENVIRONMENT TELL THE STORY THROUGH HERITAGE FOR ALL • Cover a diverse range of topics from Aboriginal and • Provide opportunities for people of all abilities to European heritage, ecology and geology experience the outstanding example of indigenous • Give an understanding of how Govetts Leap relates Australian flora through their experience at the lookout to the wider Blue Mountains and World Heritage • Provide universal access to the lookout through ramping, Significance as well as drop off points and disabled parking for ease of • Adapt and reuse elements on site in current locations access for all visitors where possible, such as existing stonework (shelters, the lookout obelisk etc) and where elements may cause access issues (such as the archway) consider relocation to more suitable location OBJECTIVES SUMMARY JUNE 2020 14