Major upgrades proposed for Manly Dam

It may look like something out of Mission Impossible, but we have a well-coordinated operation planned for Manly Warringah War Memorial State Park (Manly Dam) next week (Monday 6 December) which will involve a chopper delivering essential construction material to inaccessible areas of the park.

The material includes bags of sandstone blocks weighing up to 900kg each as well as a further two loads of decking that are to be used in the upcoming upgrade to the Park Circuit East Track which stretches between the fire trails at Nyrang Road and Roosevelt Ave at Allambie (Sections 5-16). 

It is expected 65 trips will be conducted from a nearby reserve where the materials are stored to five drop zones along the trail. In addition, up to 40 stone blocks will be carried by hand into the park.

Improvements will include the installation of sections of boardwalk made from Fibre Reinforced Plastic (FRP), which protects vulnerable parts of the track prone to being washed away or boggy mud puddles forming. It will also include new impressive sandstone stairs to replace the stepping stones.

The existing stairs made from timber sleepers will be upgraded as they’ve come to the end of their usable life and new signage will also complement the works.

The works are part of ongoing upgrades and maintenance to improve the popular recreational track and Sydney's biggest freshwater lake, and are expected to commence in December and be completed in June 2022.

Council will make all efforts to minimise any impact to the community as renewal works take place by making detours and carrying out most of the works during business hours.

Council will also work hard to minimise any impact of the works on the native flora and fauna in this sensitive area.

This project is made possible thanks to funding from the NSW Government’s Crown Reserves Improvement Fund with the remaining costs absorbed by Council.

In addition, the NSW Government announced in March this year a major funding boost contributing $859,952 towards the $1.7 million project, to build 800 metres of raised boardwalk and viewing platforms along a section of the southern shore.

The two metre-wide, raised boardwalk between Picnic Area 2 and 3 will take pedestrians off the busy roadway and through the bushland providing a safe and picturesque walking track.

The path will be fully accessible, allowing wheelchairs, prams and people of all abilities to enjoy this beautiful walk.

This new section of track will join other areas upgraded in 2020 including over 200 metres of new tracks on the north western side of the dam and the eastern side got over 130 metres of new track.

The full Manly Dam circuit is 7.5km with some difficult sections and will take about 2.5 hours.