2009 Toon Trust Grant had to forego

Late in 2008 we submitted an application to the Toon Trust for funding to reinstate the old walking track to the two hill peaks above Crystal Pool and to have built at the end of each track a viewing platform. This would allow safe viewing of the views to Kingston from one and Rocky Point/Hundred Acre at the other. The maximum grant available was $20,000.00 and this is what we applied for as that just covered the cost of making the platforms and excavator work. Planting of the slopes and around the platforms to further stabilise these areas would be our in kind contribution.

This area is popular with visitors who currently scramble up a steep slope strewn with mutton birds holes and who then stand directly on the cliff edge above which is crumbling and unsafe. There is a sheer drop off the back of around 80m which has no barrier to stop people toppling over. There is a bird hole strewn track across the top and over to the next peak which has the same drop a metre or so behind and a grassy slope in front. The views are fantastic - right around Rocky Point one way and looking past Bumborus and the coast to Kingston the other.

We were successful in getting the grant subject to planning board approval. We duly put the plans into the Planning Board and after months of backward and forward discussions did not get them approved as the board wanted a formed stepped walkway to go to the two peaks rather than a grassed track. There was insufficient money in the grant to cover this cost and we could not afford the extra cost this would entail. We tried for several months to find the funding without success. Regretably we had to withdraw our application and give up the grant. This was Norfolk's and our visitors loss entirely and such a shame.

These pics show the drop behind one area and the view to Kingston from the other. Some other time I'll add in more pics of how this area continues to be unsafe and unimproved all for a reason that could have been solved had they allowed us to do this in stages as funding was available.