Locals Outraged As Illegal Trail at Woorarra Lookout Reserve Devastates Bushland

A local resident has raised urgent concerns over a mountain bike track at the Woorarra Lookout Reserve in Elanora Heights that has allegedly been illegally built.


Read: A Win For Locals: Massive Ingleside Housing Plans Scrapped


The resident contacted the Northern Beaches Council to report that the track is causing permanent damage to the fragile ecosystem in the reserve, which is home to rare and endangered plant species.

The mountain bikers have reportedly cleared vegetation, dug into the soil, modified sandstone rocks, and created ramps and jumps along the track. This has led to habitat and species loss, as well as severe erosion in parts of the reserve.

Photo credit: Gary Matthews/Google Maps

Woorara Reserve borders the Deep Creek Reserve and contains sensitive bushland that supports threatened ecological communities. Community bushcare groups have worked for decades to regenerate the area after decades of degradation.

Woorarra Lookout Reserve
Photo credit: S Salehi/Google Maps

The construction of the illegal track directly opposes Council rules and regulations put in place to protect such endangered environments. It also excludes the wider community from enjoying the public green space.

Woorarra Lookout Reserve
Photo credit: Gary Matthews/Google Maps

This incident highlights an ongoing issue across Sydney’s Northern Beaches, where illegal mountain bike tracks are being built in public reserves and parks to the detriment of the natural habitat. Dangerous tracks have appeared in places like Warriewood, Mona Vale, Newport, Avalon, and Narrabeen.

Concerned groups claim the problem has resulted in injuries to children, anti-social behaviour, and threats against park users.

In a Facebook post, one resident expressed shock at the damage that has allegedly been done by local kids in Elanora Heights’ Woorarra Lookout Reserve.

The resident claimed that whilst sitting in the reserve in an area that was illegally cleared to build mountain bike jumps, they were subjected to appalling abuse. 

The resident alleged that they were sworn at, spat at, verbally abused, had rocks thrown at them, and received threats from young boys from the local community. The resident condemned the antisocial and threatening behaviour they faced whilst visiting the reserve.


Read: Elanora Heights Public School Successfully Completes Sustainable Initiatives


The fate of the fragile Woorara Lookout Reserve now lies in the hands of the Council, who must decide how to balance recreational interests with conservation and community safety.

Published 1-November-2023

Elanora Heights Public School Successfully Completes Sustainable Initiatives

Congratulations to the Elanora Heights Public School community for completing a monumental Bush Track project and other successful sustainable initiatives for the school year!



After receiving a $14,000 Sustainable Schools Grant funding, the students attending Elanora Heights Public School, along with their parents and teachers, recently unveiled the end result of their Bush Track project. 

The community worked together to remove weeds and conduct major clearing along Elanora Rd to facilitate regeneration and allow native plants to grow again. The task taught the students to understand why care and value for the environment deliver a sustainable future, apart from the physical and mental benefits of being around nature. 

Ms Jenny Cullen, a teacher, headed the Bush Track project and received assistance from parents who are experts in ecology to teach the school community in identifying the different plants to cultivate and native animals to protect in the area. Signs were also installed along the bush track that leads to the school, whilst the Northern Beaches Council produced the tube stack needed for the reserve’s improvements. 

Along with the Bush Track project, Elanora Heights Public School also completed the Eat a Rainbow initiative for Year 2 kids to develop healthy eating habits consisting of fruits and vegetables. 

Parental experts on diet and nutrition were asked to speak before the children and teach them about how to Eat a Rainbow for the holiday season. The initiative is part of the school’s Make My Own Lunch program, which has been running for 10 years.  



Elanora Heights Public School to Get Funding for Canteen Upgrades

Elanora Heights Public School is one of the beneficiaries of the $3 million school infrastructure projects from the NSW Government’s Metro Renewal Program and the funds to be received will be used for canteen upgrades.

Member for Pittwater Rob Stokes confirmed the allocated funds, which will also also be distributed across over 200 schools in the state. Aside from Elanora Heights Public School, these other schools in the Pittwater Ward will also receive funding for the following projects:

SCHOOLPROJECT
Avalon Public School New Covered Outdoor Learning Area
Barrenjoey High SchoolNew Covered Outdoor Learning Area
Bilgola Plateau Public SchoolUpgrade of cricket nets
Mona Vale Public School Toilet upgrade
Newport Public SchoolToilet upgrade
Pittwater High School Upgrade of lab rooms
Terrey Hills Public SchoolNew Covered Outdoor Learning Area

In addition to the canteen upgrades, Elanora Heights Public School was also able to acquire funding from NSW Sustainable Schools Grant to rehabilitate its bushlands. 



“This latest funding is a great investment in our local schools,” Mr Stokes said. 

“These new learning spaces and facilities will help ensure our schools provide a fantastic and well-rounded learning environment for local students.

“I look forward to seeing these projects come to fruition – along with other major school upgrades in our community.” 

Work on the canteen upgrades, as well as the other projects in Pittwater schools, have yet to be set on the calendar. 

$60-K Fireball: Elanora Heights Saved in the Nick of Time

The Champions, an Elanora Heights family of four, almost lost their home after a fiery accident brought about by a crystal ball left in sunlight. 



After spending $60,000 in upgrades and customisations, Matty Champion and his wife Melinda were able to transform their bus into a fully-operational mobile home complete with a kitchen, shower, and toilet. The couple lived in the bus with their two daughters, Jordan and Billie.

Their passion project had cost them a large chunk of their savings, and the Champions almost witnessed it all go up in flames after a crystal ball left in the vehicle’s centre console magnified sunlight and burned a pillow, starting a fire. According to the buses’ CCTV footage, the ball had been smoking for over an hour before fire began to spread.

The family came into possession of the ball after expressing interest in crystals and natural healing, however they’d failed to anticipate the destructive properties of glass in harsh sunlight. The Champions were lucky enough that one of their neighbours informed them immediately after spotting smoke coming from the vehicle.

Their neighbour then doused the flames with a fire extinguisher, and by the time the local fire brigade had arrived, the situation was already under control. 

Following the accident, crystals are now banned from the front of the bus in order to prevent any fires starting inside. The Champions remarked that they were lucky that the fire didn’t destroy their home entirely, for they’d invested far too much time and money into its transformation from a simple vehicle into a home on wheels.

Toro Nero Elanora Heights Earns Nomination for the 2019 Local Business Award

Toro Nero Elanora Heights has been nominated for the 2019 Local Business Award and its patrons may help the restaurant qualify as one of the most outstanding businesses in the Northern Beaches by casting their vote.

Loyal patrons of Toro Nero Elanora Heights may vote online under the Northern Beaches category.  Customers may also submit a printed coupon directly at Toro Nero or through the award body’s media partners

After the qualifying rounds, anonymous judges will be visiting the restaurant to look into its operation, service, and value to the community. Winners of the Local Business Awards will be honoured and acknowledged during an evening gala, which shall be announced at a later date.  



Toro Nero Elanora Heights, located on Elanora Road, is a familiar hangout among the locals. It is known as a family restaurant with a rustic and relaxed atmosphere, where diners can enjoy hearty and authentic Italian meals.

Photo Credit: Toro Nero Elanora Heights
Photo Credit: Toro Nero Elanora Heights

Established in 2014, Toro Nero mostly serves flavourful pizza in red and white based sauces that can satisfy a large group of diners. These are prepared and cooked in a traditional wood-fired oven.

The restaurant also offers a selection of other popular Italian dishes like pasta and salads that go well with a glass of alcohol for the adults. Toro Nero serves cocktails, red or white wine, scotch, rum, bourbon, vodka, and gin.

Toro Nero has a second store at Mona Vale in Pittwater Road. Both locations are open every Tuesday to Sunday from 5:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m.



“Great little place, tucked away in Elanora Heights. Love the menu and was spoilt for choice. The pizza was delicious with a thin base, cooked in a traditional wood fire oven. Service was good, nice setting and decor and we all had a great evening. Definitely want to return to try out more of the menu!”

~ Rosie Pollard, via Google Review

“For great casual dining, Toro Nero is a great place. It’s small ad intimate, offers indoor and outdoor dining, is licensed or BYO wine, and has a fantastic menu of wood-fired pizza complemented by excellent salad and side dishes. You had better book as this is a favourite with the locals and hard to get in at times.”

~ Steve M, via Trip Advisor

“Pizza is a family favourite and we are rarely satisfied when we dine out whether it be the service, price or the food that lets us down – but Toro Nero in Elanora Heights gets 5 stars on all accounts! Service was top notch, food was AMAZING and all at a bargain price when you take advantage of their $20 all you can eat pizza! Even my pizza loving son said it was the best pizza he has ever had! We will be back Toro Nero and we will spread the word because everyone deserves to enjoy such an incredible place. Thanks, guys!”

~ Aaron Stephenson, via Restaurant Guru 

Council Defers Proposal to Repair Elanora Scout and Community Hall

The Northern Beaches Council has deferred the proposal to repair the Elanora Scout and Community Hall. Located near the Bilarong Reserve, this community centre has been the site of various activities mounted by local businesses and an active Scout Group composed of more than 70 families.

The petition laid out on Change.Org called on members of the community to support the repair proposal and it received 378 signatures by the end of February. However, following a Council meeting, it was decided that the hall repair will not be a priority.



The Elanora Scout and Community Hall has been plagued with termite damage and may no longer be used. Currently, the Scout Group conducts its meetings at the Collaroy Plateau Scout Hall, which is 30 minutes away from the original home base.

Photo Credit: Change.Org

According to Kate Straetemans, who actively campaigned for the hall’s repair, the Council also indicated it might not be possible to build a new facility based on the area’s flood zoning issues and lack of public transport.



Mayor Michael Regan will speak with the Scout Group to discuss other options. This is a developing issue and the petition remains open.