Blue Mountains News

Work on the upgrades is planned to start in July (weather permitting).

As part of the first stage of upgrade works, the project will deliver:

• A unique water play experience which channels existing ground water down the incline of the park and provides lots of opportunity for interaction at the water’s edge. This include places where those who are less mobile, or in wheelchairs, can get to the water.
• An accessible connecting pathway from the Prince Edward Street park entrance, across the water play area, to the new toilet. A link from the play area to the accessible path which leads to Blackheath Pool will also be completed.
• Providing a wire-mesh fence for safety between the play areas and the road, and the play areas and the deep drain.
• Relocating the heritage swing set from the duck-pond area of the park to the toddler play area.
• Keeping the heritage and iconic pipe-based play equipment and improving their setting.
• Landscaping and plantings.

Due to rising material and building costs, some parts of the upgrade shown in previous draft designs will not be included in this first stage of construction. Replacement of the play equipment in the main play area, near the red rocket, will not take place during this stage.

Blue Mountains Mayor, Cr Mark Greenhill said: “Unfortunately, the rocketing cost of materials across the construction sector means that the new play equipment we had planned for the playspace won’t be available in this stage of the upgrade. We fully acknowledge and understand this is disappointing news.

“I don’t think anyone could accurately anticipate the dramatic ongoing impact that recent events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and successive natural disasters would have on the construction industry. The flow-on effects across a range of Council projects have been significant.

“However, our staff are invested in delivering the best results possible for the community, taking into account expert advice, community feedback and the sensitive environmental and historical characteristics of the park.”

Splitting the works program allows Council to revisit the play equipment upgrade in a second stage of works once further funding is secured.

“To be clear, updating the play equipment will happen, but it makes sense practically and also financially to build the accessible pathway, water play experience and fence-line first,” Mayor Greenhill said.

“A big reason for this is to address the large volumes of ground water that sit underneath the site. Over the last two years our region has experienced a tremendous amount of rainfall which highlighted just how wet the park can get in extreme conditions.

“The plans for the new upgrades flip this problem on its head by using the ground water in a positive and beneficial way. The construction of a distinctive water play feature will channel water down the slope.

“The accessible path connections are also critical to enhancing the useability of the park, especially for less mobile visitors, and the fence is key in keeping children safely within the bounds of the play area.”

The first stage of the playspace upgrade follows the recent completion of the new toilet block at the park and the work that’s already started on big improvements to the duck pond.

Park visitors will notice that the duck pond has now been emptied of water and work has commenced in removing the silt and debris from the pond floor. This pond material is being aired-out on the grass so much of it can be re-used on site, where appropriate.

Funding for this upgrade has been provided by the NSW Government’s Public Spaces Legacy Program.

For more information on the playspace upgrade, visit: here