Rodney Stevens

One of the region’s most popular family favourite campgrounds has reopened following a transformation by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service NPWS in collaboration with the Bandjalang Aboriginal Corporation.

NPWS Bundjalung National Park Ranger Emma Goodwin said the upgrade at Mibanbah Black Rocks campground near Woodburn was a result of three years of planning and collaboration with the Bandjalang Aboriginal Corporation which has revamped the campground and preserved the sites profound cultural significance.

The upgrade has resulted in 51 public campsites, a new cultural precinct for Bandjalang Native Title Holders, expanded car parking and a new day-use zone providing enhanced access to Jerusalem Creek.

Visitors will notice the campground now provides safe and easy access for families with larger vehicles, new picnic spots and fire pits, dedicated pedestrian paths for beach access, plus directional and cultural interpretation signage.

Ms Goodwin said the cultural value of the area to the Bandjalang Aboriginal Corporation held significant importance in the upgrade.

“A key focus of the upgrade was relocating the existing campsites away from the sand dunes, which house Aboriginal middens with significant cultural value to the local Bandjalang people,” she said.

“The previous arrangement of campsites and beach access had resulted in visitors walking over the dunes, inadvertently eroding, and damaging these important sites.

“The new campsite arrangement not only better protects the Aboriginal cultural heritage values of site, but the campsites themselves are also much more comfortable.

“Each site has been designed with natural screening to ensure visitors can enjoy privacy, even in busy summer months.

“The sites have also been raised and levelled so that they are longer inundated with sand drifts and minor flooding during bad weather.”

To book a site at the Mibanbah Black Rocks campground visit www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au