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FRESH from their success with the Anzac Memorial Walk, Newcastle restaurateur Neil Slater and architect Barney Collins have a new dream.
They want to re-open old mining rail tunnels between Merewether and Burwood beaches as an extension to Newcastle City Council’s Bathers Way walk.
People could then take the trails up past Glenrock Lagoon up to the Fernleigh Track near Burwood Road at Kahibah.
‘‘The bit between Merewether and Burwood is the missing link in a walking trail that takes you from the Fernleigh Track at Belmont all the way to Nobbys [about 20kilometres],’’ Mr Slater said.
Similar plans have come and gone over the years but Mr Slater said on Friday the tunnels were an idea worth pursuing.
He said it had been ‘‘a bit of a dream’’ for a while but things were at ‘‘a very early stage’’.
Given the significance of the tunnels to the early days of the Australian coal industry, he was hoping to secure mining sector funding for the project in the same way that BHP Billiton had supported the Memorial Walk.
Mr Collins said he had spoken informally with council engineers about the sort of studies and investigations that would be needed to see if two tunnels could be repaired and reopened.
Newcastle lord mayor Nuatali Nelmes said she had talked with Mr Collins about it a few months ago.
‘‘I think it’s great that Barney is thinking of pursuing it further and he has my support,’’ Cr Nelmes said.
She said she had discussed it with others in 2008 during her first year on the council.
Reopening the tunnels had been considered as part of the council’s coastal revitalisation master plan but had been left out because it would have been too expensive and problematic.
Mr Slater said Memorial Walk was proving very popular with the public.
‘‘I’m extremely proud and pleased that people are using it and having a great time,’’ Mr Slater said.
‘‘The novelty will wear off eventually as far as numbers are concerned but certainly not in the immediate future. Right now, with winter starting, it’s a sensational whale-watching platform.
‘‘It’s also shown that we’ve got a track record of getting these things done and if we get everyone together, all of the stakeholders, then it could be achieved.’’
It was too early to say how much it would cost or how long it might take, except to say it would be expensive, although the Hunter had all of the mining expertise you’d need for the job.’’
Historical maps show three rail tunnels beneath the headland, under Scenic Drive and Hickson Street, Merewether.
They and other rail lines in the area linked various 19th century underground mines to the coal wharves on Newcastle harbour.
Mr Slater said it was too early to tell how many of the tunnels would be or could be used.
Newcastle Herald files show that in June 2009, developer Keith Stronach suggested a boardwalk over the rocks between the two beaches as he waited for approval for Merewether Surfhouse.
Cr Nelmes said the Memorial Walk was working well as an extension of the overall Bathers Way.
‘‘The walk from Nobbys to Merewether is a significant drawcard to the city and it would be fantastic to open Burwood Beach and Glenrock Lagoon area to allow people easier access to the great walks that are already there,’’ Cr Nelmes said.
She said the Nobbys section of Bathers Way was open with just the finishing touches to go.
Tenders were being let for the next section to Zaara Street. Detailed planning work was about to start on the section through King Edward Park, with more than $4million in the council budget to repair the sea wall at South Newcastle beach.
‘‘Bathers Way will be 90 per cent complete by the end of July,’’ Cr Nelmes said.
