This week saw the erection of a very heavy gauged fence at the historic Helensburgh Station Reserve. The fence begins halfway across the old Helensburgh Station platform and through the former rail alignment.
Crown Lands are the government department in control of the area, and have come to this decision with the assistance of local groups and bodies. The main reason for the fence is in recent years, and explosion of visitors to the tunnel has decimated the unique glow worm population that lives in the Metropolitan Tunnel. Unfortunately some of these visitors use fireworks, strong lights and similar devices to capture their experience in the tunnel. Others are causing serious vandalism to the area. The rubbish and garbage left behind is getting out of control of the immediate residents who are tirelessly cleaning up after these people leave. In short the areas popularity has grown to levels that could be irreversible.
There could be weekend controlled access in the future, but this will likely occur when the area has had sufficient time to recover from the devastating population decline of the glow worm colony.
Metropolitan Tunnel in the background.
State Records NSW – Photographic Collection.
Thanks for letting us know about the recent closure.
I’ve been looking forward to visiting the tunnel for a long time, and have just driven up from Victoria planning to take my 11 y.o. son (it’s school holidays in Victoria).
I’m just a few days too late 🙁
Monday 3rd July 2018