Visitors and locals enjoy Coastal Walk upgrades, Port Macquarie NSW

Visitors are delighted with the newly constructed access facilities at two of Port Macquarie’s most popular tourism features, the Tacking Point Lighthouse and the Coastal Walk.

“The Coastal Walk is a magnificent initiative and has already proved extremely popular with locals and visitors alike,” said Port-Macquarie-Hastings Council Administrator, Mr Garry Payne.

From start to finish, the stairway has provided much needed local economic stimulus. Environmental assessments were completed by local consultants, all timber, concrete and fastenings were sourced from local providers and construction was completed by three local tradespeople.

“This final stage couldn’t have been constructed without the assistance of the Australian Government,” said Mr Payne, referring to the new stairway to the Coastal Walk, and the $103,000 in funding under the Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program.

Situated halfway between Sydney and Brisbane, Port Macquarie is a significant tourism hub. Being widely promoted as a tourist attraction, the Coastal Walk has the potential to provide a range of economic benefits to the community as the town of Port Macquarie relies on its many magnificent beaches, lush hinterland and moderate year-round climate to attract tourism.

Protecting the environment is a high priority for the Port Macquarie community. Thanks to the Australian Government’s Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program, Port Macquarie’s residents are now enjoying a more active lifestyle – and the related health benefits – by accessing the Coastal Walk.

“The new stairway provides access to one of Port Macquarie’s most stunning tourism features,” Mr Payne said. “Previously, walkers had to scramble over an unformed track, or alternatively, walk along a very narrow roadway to access the lighthouse”.

The stairway also provides a formal route between Little Bay and the Tacking Point Lighthouse, and gives protection to the Themeda Grasslands, which are listed as an Endangered Ecological Community under the Threatened Species and Conservation Act (NSW).  

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