Blue Mountains News

The revised design follows the valuable community consultation sessions that took place in March and April this year about the improvements to this very special area of the park.

To view and have your say on the new design, take part in the online survey by Monday, 5 September 2022 at here.

Council is prioritising the upgrade of the duck pond to enhance the visitor experience at the park, by improving safety, accessibility, water quality and community facilities.

The new duck pond design includes:

• A new accessible loop path around the pond
• Replacing the existing barbeque shelter with a new and accessible one
• Improved sight lines into the pond 
• Changes to the pond shape and edges to improve water quality and habitat
• Relocating the island and providing an improved turtle habitat
• Safer pond edges and removal of some portions of the existing fence
• Relocating the arch swings as part of the associated play space upgrade.

Blue Mountains City Council Mayor Mark Greenhill said: “The design reflects some great feedback we received from the community when we presented the initial draft concepts for the rejuvenation of the duck pond area.

“We’re now at the next stage of that conversation and I encourage anyone with an interest in this historic, beautiful space to head online, consider the design and have your say.”

Blackheath Soldiers Memorial Park is one of four district parks in the Blue Mountains, which means it is designed for the whole Blue Mountains community to use.

The upgrade will be in line with the masterplan for Blackheath Soldiers Memorial Park, which was adopted in 2020 after two years of extensive community consultation.

In addition to the duck pond, upgrades are also being planned for the play space and surrounding landscape at Blackheath Soldiers Memorial Park as part of the current project. Connecting paths and interpretive elements will ensure all parts of the park integrate well together.

The pond upgrade works will be delivered as part of a $2 million funding boost from the NSW Public Spaces Legacy Program. A further $2 million funding from this program is also providing for upgrades to the Corridor of Oaks at Faulconbridge.

About the NSW Public Spaces Legacy Program:

The NSW Government is investing up to $250 million through the NSW Public Spaces Legacy Program to support councils to deliver more and better public spaces across the state. This is the biggest injection of funding for public spaces in a generation.

Blue Mountains City Council received funding for two Legacy projects: Blackheath Soldiers Memorial Park, and the Corridor of Oaks and Jackson Park, Faulconbridge.
For more information about the NSW Public Spaces Legacy Program, visit: here