Currawong State Park could be the next Cockatoo Island

CURRAWONG is being touted as the “Cockatoo Island of the northern beaches”, with a steering committee pushing to make it a “well-known and desirable tourist destination” by 2025.

Semi-permanent glamping tents proposed for Currawong. Picture: Supplied.

CURRAWONG is being touted as the “Cockatoo Island of the northern beaches”, with a steering committee pushing to make it a “well-known and desirable tourist destination” by 2025.

It would include semipermanent glamping tents to allow more people to visit the site and a heavy focus on “eco-tourism”, according to the Currawong State Advisory Park Committee.

Eco-tourism is generally defined as low-impact and in areas that are relatively undisturbed natural areas, such as the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, which Currawong backs on to.

The head of the committee, Romilly Madew, compared its potential to that of Cockatoo Island, which hosts school excursions, bushwalks and allows for a variety of accommodation.

Mrs Madew recently put the committee’s “wish list” to Northern Beaches Council administrator Dick Persson, Mackellar Federal Liberal MP Jason Falinksi and Pittwater State MP Rob Stokes.

The venue is usually at about 40 per cent capacity, and is run down. But a number of grants awarded by the State Government have started to turn it around. Some funding was used to restore one of the main houses, and there are hopes another house, used for accommodation, can be restored soon.

Currawong State Park Advisory Committee Chair, Romilly Madew presenting the future concept with Northern Beaches Council general manager Mark Ferguson watching on.

The committee will open its ideas for pubic comment next year.

Mrs Madew said plans would have been on exhibition earlier, but it had been stalled by the council amalgamation.

“Those types of things are what we are trying to do in the coming years, [we] will develop documents and plans to go out to the community for their thoughts and consultation,” she said.

“We want to make it financially sustainable so it looks after itself.

“There are some really good examples like Cockatoo Island that are self sustainable. With the right infrastructure, we can do that.”

Mr Stokes said now Currawong was firmly in public hands, it was time to look at how to use it best.

The run down cabins at Currawong. Picture: Martin Lange.

“Currawong is a magical part of our community which deserves both protection and appreciation,” he said. “We need to look at how our community can best experience its immense environmental and heritage qualities.

“Since the establishment of Currawong State Park, increased funding opportunities have become available — but there needs to be a long-term plan for its future.”

Mr Falinski said Currawong could be a “jewel in the crown of Sydney”.

“One of the things I am looking at is what grants and funding I can get out of the Federal Government to help it along,” he said. “If you can get it environmentally self-sustainable and financially self-sustainable it wont be a burden on the ratepayers and is always going to be something special.”