Blue Mountains City Council has announced it will temporarily close Lincoln’s Rock from Thursday 22 January for a minimum of three months in response to escalating safety and environmental concerns.
Council says the iconic clifftop lookout at Wentworth Falls has seen a sharp rise in visitor numbers in recent years, with many visitors continuing to ignore safety warnings at the unfenced site.
“Lincoln’s Rock is a stunning but inherently dangerous clifftop location within a World Heritage-listed area,” said Mayor, Mark Greenhill.
“Despite Council’s efforts to improve safety measures and manage increasing visitation, too many people continue to disregard warning signs and put themselves, and the fragile environment, at serious risk.
“While we understand how much locals and tourists value this site, we cannot in good conscience keep it open while people ignore basic safety precautions at an unfenced cliff edge.
“As the popularity of the site has grown, visitors have ventured further into intact bushland which significantly impacts upon native vegetation and wildlife.
“As environmental stewards responsible for managing 10,000 hectares of bushland across the City, Council has attempted to rehabilitate informal tracks and trails over the last few years, but the sheer volume of visitor numbers are beyond an acceptable threshold for this environmentally and culturally significant site.
“Our goal is to reopen Lincoln’s Rock as soon as possible, but only when it can be done safely and sustainably,” Cr Greenhill said.
The closure will remain in place until at least 30 April 2026, when it will be reviewed.
Council is developing a comprehensive Locality Plan for the Lincoln’s Rock area, which will be released for community consultation in April.
The plan will address ongoing issues, including environmental degradation, traffic congestion, illegal parking, litter management and impacts on residential amenity, while exploring safe and sustainable public access options for the lookout.
