Blue Mountains News

Officially opened by Blue Mountains Mayor Mark Greenhill and Member for Blue Mountains Trish Doyle MP, the extensive enhancement of the upper Cascades includes:  

• A new, accessible amenities building, picnic shelter, seating and a double electric BBQ.  
• A new carpark providing 30 spaces including two accessible spaces (plus two recreational vehicle/mini bus parking spaces).  
• New paths, ramps, steps, water refill station and signage.  
• Stormwater management, including a bio-retention basin, and environmental protection works to reduce erosion and improve water quality.  

Further upgrades, to the lower area of the Cascades, will be delivered by mid-2026, including:  

• Precinct lighting, including a section of night lit walk with under-rail lighting, feature lighting of Chelmsford Bridge and other landscape features.  
• Walking track upgrades from the Leura Cascades trackhead downstream along Leura Falls Creek, including a water refill station, signage, viewing area and seating.  

The $5 million Leura Cascades Recreational Precinct upgrade project is funded by the NSW Government’s Western Sydney Infrastructure Grant Program.  

The grant also partially funded the upgrade of Leura culvert in 2023, helping to better manage stormwater within this environmentally sensitive precinct.  

Blue Mountains Cr Mark Greenhill said, “Council is committed to ensuring that projects like this sensitively increase accessibility to our beautiful natural spaces. It’s about making areas easier to access and navigate which means a broader range of people in our local community can experience and enjoy our natural environment.  

“Importantly, the Leura Cascades precinct is as ecologically sensitive as it is visually striking. A key part of the upgrade process has been ensuring that environmental protections and an effective approach to water management through the site are well integrated.  

“These upgrades also complement improvements we’ve delivered at other key points along the scenic, 19-kilometer Grand Cliff Top Walk. In particular, it’s been great to see people of all ages and abilities enjoying the recent upgrades at Gordon Falls Reserve.  

“We can also look ahead to next year when we’ll see the final stage of works under this Grant Program completed at Leura Cascades, with more improvements to the walking tracks and a section of night lit walk showcasing the impressive State Heritage Listed Chelmsford Bridge.”  

Member for Blue Mountains, Trish Doyle MP said, “As well as heritage listing earlier this year, the Leura Cascades precinct is very popular and will benefit from necessary upgrades. This excellent NSW Government Grants Program provides just what the area needs.” 

As a key part of the precinct upgrade, and with strong community support shown through the precinct planning process, a reminder that Chelmsford Bridge and Chelmsford Drive are closed to public vehicles.  

Designed in 1912, Chelmsford Bridge is a beautiful example of an unreinforced concrete arch bridge and reopening it to traffic would require a range of extensive risk mitigation measures that would have a negative impact on the bridge and surrounding environment.  

More information about the Leura Cascades Recreation Precinct upgrade is available at: here