My friend Wendy was going to attend the Blue Mountains Conservations Society’s rally to Keep Radiata Plateau Wild at Cahills Lookout at Katoomba on Sunday afternoon. I suggested a short walk on the Plateau would be a good idea before the rally.
At present, most of the Plateau is privately owned and fortunately the present owners allow walkers and climbers access. However this may change in the future, particularly if the Plateau is sold or if it is developed.
It is called “Radiata Plateau” because there are some Radiata Pines growing on it. But the dominant trees look to me like Blue Mountains Ash (Eucalyptus oreades). Except for the pine trees and a few old roads the Plateau is largely undeveloped. The cliffs and the slopes below the cliffs are particularly important – these are completely intact. Some of the cliffs are used by rock climbers and their are also quite a few historic bushwalking routes through the cliffs – namely Blacks Ladders, Esgates Pass and Bottleneck Pass. (See also an early report of Bottleneck Pass as a hiking suggestion in the Katoomba Daily from 10 September 1932 – page 4, that is online here) Nearer the Highway, and on public land is Nellies Glen – which is the route for the historic Six Foot Track.
One very rare tree – the Dwarf Mountain Pine (Pherosphaera fitzgeraldii) is found in some of the gullies surrounding the Plateau.
The Blue Mountains Conservations Society is campaigning to have the wild part of the Plateau purchased, perhaps by the State or the Federal Government, and then be added to Blue Mountains National Park.
Wendy and I walked out to Megalong Head – where there is a trig. There are also fine views of Megalong from there. On the way, we also ventured out to several lookouts that provide views of the cliffs and also Narrow Neck. We followed a road and it made a loop around Mt Elphinstone.
After our walk, we headed to Cahills Lookout at Katoomba. This lookout provides a fine view of the Plateau. There we joined many other people for the rally.
One of the highlights of the rally was when climbers on one of the cliffs of Radiata Plateau unrolled a large banner.
More photos are online here on my website.
Hi Dave,
I appreciate your concern for Radiata Plateau. In Sydney where I live we are constantly fighting for our (diminishing) trees and natural environment. I do think with the Radiata Plateau owners there can be positive discussion unlike our Sydney battle with developers, State Government and RTA felling 100 year old fig trees for the light rail and ever more freeways.
Maybe everyone should get together and talk about it: owners of the land and the Blue Mountains Conservation Society. See if there’s a way forward. The owners have never restricted access to the public. No one wants destruction of the land: neither the owners nor the community.
I have been on several bushwalks there and the feeling on the land heals body and soul. It is precious. (I did take exception to dogs off-leash though.)
Hi Dave,
Thanks for altering your name in my posting. Really appreciated.
🙂