Blue Mountains News

The upgrades include:

• An accessible boardwalk between the Corridor of Oaks ‘Prime Minister Trees’, with accessible paths linking the oaks and the toilet
• Replacement accessible toilet
• Formalised accessible car parking
• A road crossing point with speed humps either side
• Relocation of the swing set to accommodate the road crossing, and
• Removal of trees impacting on the oaks, and extensive plantings.

Work will primarily be carried out on weekdays with the occasional half-day on weekends.

The Corridor of Oaks is a local heritage-listed item and is significant as a commemoration of the successive Prime Ministers of Australia since Federation. The land is also associated with Sir Henry Parkes and the prominent role he played in bringing about the federation of the Australian colonies.

Blue Mountains City Council Mayor Mark Greenhill said: “It’s great to see this significant work on the Corridor of Oaks and Jackson Park get underway. It’s an important historic site that deserves to be made more accessible to members of our community.

“The work is also vital to helping protect the health and resilience of the trees themselves. The new boardwalk, slightly elevated off the ground, is key to protecting this majestic and symbolic avenue of oaks into the future by reducing the impact of foot traffic over sensitive root zones.

“Some modifications are being made to the sandstone wall along the site and any stonework that needs to be removed will be reused on-site as part of the upgrade works.

“These upgrades are another example of what we’re trying to achieve across the many projects we’re delivering for the community - providing better, more accessible infrastructure that is designed for the future needs of the Blue Mountains community.

“This is far more than a little tinkering around the edges, we’re using hard-won grant funding on projects that make a positive difference to the wellbeing of our communities.”

This project is funded by the NSW Public Spaces Legacy Program.