Blackheath Village Centre Upgrade

Blackheath Rail Building – Public Art EOI has now closed. Thank you to everyone who submitted an EOI.

Council called for Expressions of Interest (EOI) from sculptors and artists to develop a site-specific public artwork as part of the planned improvements to Blackheath Village Centre. This project is one part of a broader village upgrade project and is funded by the Build Better Regions Fund (BBRF), the Western Parkland City Liveability Program Fund (WPCLP) and Council’s contribution.

This project will deliver a new, site-specific sculptural artwork within the area around the Blackheath Rotary Clock and Neate Park. The purpose of the artwork is to visually screen the dilapidated rail building and add aesthetic interest to the Village Centre and arrival experience to Blackheath. The sculpture is to be a well-made work that is suitable for an outdoor public environment.

Council is looking for an artist to design the site-specific artwork consistent with one or more of the following key principles:

• Sensitivity to the aesthetic qualities of Blackheath Village
• Contextual responsiveness to Ngurra (Country)
• Potential to portray local and town stories
• Collaboration with local community members in the creation of the work

Update 6 April 2023

Following community consultation on the upgrade in late 2022 and early 2023, the Blackheath Village Centre upgrade plans have progressed into a more detailed design phase. Consultation comments were reviewed and considered for the detailed design where practically suitable supported by Traffic Engineering and Heritage and Environment teams.

Below is a brief update on the progress of each package that makes up this important upgrade project:

Package 1 – Sutton Lane Carpark, Sutton Lane Crossing & Station St Carpark

• Preliminary design and internal review completed.
• Proposed layouts submitted for next stage approval such as the Local Traffic Committee for consideration at the mid-April meeting.
• Proposed layouts will be provided to external stakeholders such as the Access Advisory Committee in the coming weeks
• 50% detailed design is in progress.

Package 2 – Footpath Renewal and Hall frontage accessible parking

• Assessment of the existing footpath and ramps completed.
• Footpath renewal details are under review, including an arboricultural impact assessment to ensure tree viability.
• Proposed layouts will be provided to external stakeholders such as the Access Advisory Committee and BANC in the coming weeks
• Detailed construction design is in progress.

Package 3 – Govetts Leap Rd and Wentworth St crossings and the former Post Office corner Streetscape

• Layout option studies and analysis completed with various internal teams, supported by our engaged design consultancies.
• Preliminary set-out plan completed.
• 50% detailed design and cost plan is in progress.
• Proposed layouts submitted for next stage approval such as the Local Traffic Committee for consideration at the mid-April meeting.
• Proposed layouts will be provided to external stakeholders such as the Access Advisory Committee in the coming weeks

Package 4 – Neate Park and Rotary Clock Area Enhancements

• Options for the main elements of this component of the upgrade were explored and analysed, with input from internal experts and external consultants.
• Detailed surveys including location of underground services such as Sydney Water and NBN completed and design impacts/restrictions steering designs.
• Draft 50% detailed design completed for review.
• Expressions of Interest for the design of the screening feature in front of the railway building will be sought soon.

Package 5 – Govetts Leap Statue conservation

• Structural assessment of the Statue and condition assessment of the Statue exterior coating completed.
• The original construction method and material were investigated, and an initial cleaning and repair method is proposed as a starting point for engaging suitable artists/craftsmen.

Package 6 – Visitor signage and Heritage Trail

• The graphic design work for the detailed trail plaques is well progressed, along with draft specifications for manufacture and installation.
• A licensed website to host the trail map and interpretation content of the seven historical sites has been obtained.
• Draft historical background and interpretation content of the sites was completed and is under review.

The construction works are anticipated to roll out from late August to December 2023.

The consultation report summarising community responses to our survey on the plans for the first stage of upgrades for Blackheath Village Centre is now available The survey was open from 5 December 2022 to 9 January 2023.

Download the Blackheath Village Centre Community Consultation Report.

Survey now closed: Blackheath Village Centre upgrade plans

9 January 2023.

Thank you to everyone who provided feedback through our online survey on the plans for the first stage of upgrades for Blackheath Village Centre. The survey was open from 5 December 2022 to 9 January 2023.

Community feedback will be collated and considered and a consultation report will be made available.

The plans follow previous community consultation as well as the community-endorsed Masterplan, that was endorsed by Council in 2018. The plans remain available for review below.

• Review the plans

We had a fantastic response from the community to the Blackheath Village upgrade survey.

Almost 15% of the community completed the survey, and over 130 residents attended the drop in sessions, held in February 2020.

What you told us:

• You love the shops and village, and most of you are looking forward to the improvements identified in the Masterplan.
• There was a favourable response to a town square with residents loving the idea of more seating, gardens and water refill stations, as well as occasional events like markets, music and pop-up stalls in the village centre.
• The roundabout and better and safer access for pedestrians was at the top of the list of improvements you want to see in Blackheath.
• You want to see more efficient parking because it’s essential to the functioning and connection of the village.
• Traffic flow and access in the Sutton Lane carpark is also really important to you.

Safety and connectivity

Based on the results of the survey and consultation with the Blackheath community, we will start to prepare for the important works that will improve safety, flow and connectivity in and around the village. These safety and connectivity upgrades will include:

• Improving sections of the footpath on Great Western Highway and along Wentworth Street, from Blackheath Gardens to the school.
• Improving access outside the community hall with a loading bay and new kerbs
• Formalising parking on Station Street and improving the corner of Bundarra Street.
• Adding a new roundabout at the intersection of Govetts Leap Road and Wentworth Street.
• Introducing pedestrian crossings leading up to the new roundabout.
• Enhancing pedestrian safety at the entrance to the Sutton Lane carpark from Wentworth Street.
• Re-configuring of the Sutton Lane carpark with additional parking at the eastern end.
• Revitalising Neate Park with feature and safety lighting.

We will come back to you once we have some more detailed designs showing what the roundabout and corners of the Govetts Leap Road and Wentworth Street intersection look like.

We expect to start work on these improvements in 2021-22.

Town square

The biggest proposed change is the creation of a town square and there was a favourable response to this concept. We will continue to work with Blackheath businesses and residents to finalise how this space will work for everyone.

As the new town square is such a large project, and so important to get right, it’s likely this part of the upgrade will be delivered separately to the safety and connectivity improvements.

These are Council’s proposals, based on previous feedback from the Blackheath community, and evidence-based design. We believe that getting the community’s feedback on this next stage is vital, so we can make the right plans for Blackheath village centre. We are gathering that feedback now, and it will inform the final decision about what the upgrade looks like.

• Enhance the entry to the village
  • Provide a sense of night time arrival with lighting of the Neate Park footpath and new pedestrian pavement.
  • Plantings and custom design balustrades at Govetts Leap Road intersection.
  • Renewing footpaths and improving the passage of the Great Blue Mountains Trail.
• Provide traffic calming devices on Govetts Leap Road
  • Install a pedestrian crossing where the footpath widens to reduce crossing distances as well as providing space for additional street tree planting.
• Create an integrated a town square
  • Create a town square by closing the northern centre of the carpark and the Govetts Leap Road entry/exit. Note: See our Comparison chart (in the document library) for more information on the no vehicle access or one way vehicle access options at this area.
  • Redesign of the existing carpark so there is no loss of car spaces.
• Improve street frontage and access to the Community Hall on Gardiner Crescent
  • Improve street frontage to hall including new kerbs and a designated loading bay.
  • Review and renew footpaths leading to the hall.
• Add a roundabout to the intersection of Wentworth and Govetts Leap Roads
  • Install a roundabout and provide new kerbs, garden beds and custom design balustrades to reduce road width and to guide safe and practical movement in and around the area.

The town square was identified as something the community would benefit from in the Blackheath Masterplan. A town square provides a central open space, somewhere to meet with friends, rest and relax while out in the village and enjoy occasional markets and events.

It is the social heart of the village, and provides a safe and vibrant place for the community and visitors to gather and enjoy Blackheath village. The town square may include seating, shade planting, gardens and even facilities like internet access, as well as providing a place for local businesses to activate and enhance their presence.

No. There will be no loss of parking spaces in Blackheath as a result of the upgrade. The proposal does include rearranging some areas of Sutton Lane Carpark to make better use of space so there will not be any loss of parking.