Gordon Falls Reserve Upgrade

Update: 7 February 2025

The roadworks below have been completed.

Roadworks have been scheduled to start on the corner of Lone Pine Avenue and Olympian Parade, Leura from Thursday, 6th February 2025 and are expected to take three weeks (weather permitting).

During this period, vehicles and pedestrians will be directed to detour around the roadworks via Balmoral Road and Gordon Road.

The work will significantly improve the road on the corner and involves reconstructing the asphalt surface and subbase.

Thank you for your patience as this work is undertaken.

18 December 2024

Delivery of the second stage of upgrade works at Gordon Falls Reserve continues to progress, following the work on the new amenities building. The upgrades are now scheduled for completion in March 2025 (weather permitting).

Currently, work includes:

• Sealing the southern carpark
• Works to complete the installation and finish of furniture, fixtures and fittings to complete the southern carpark,

Work will continue on the northern carpark from mid-January 2025, integrating the new amenities building (which is complete but can only open once work is finished on the northern carpark, due to its linkages to the carpark and surrounding area).

Thanks to the community for your patience while the work is underway to rejuvenate and make Gordon Falls Reserve more accessible

March 2024

Hundreds of steps along Prince Henry Cliff Walk between Elysian Rock and Tarpeian Rock track have been replaced and a footbridge spanning a landslip constructed. The descent to Olympian Rock Lookout is now much easier from Olympian Parade with repaired steps.

For up to date information on Walking Track Closures please refer to:

• Alerts for NSW National Parks(External link)
• Blue Mountains City Council Walking Tracks

Update: 25 July 2024

Work to construct the next stage of upgrades at Gordon Falls Reserve, Leura, is about to commence with a range of civil and landscaping improvements scheduled to start next week.

These upgrades, which will provide greater accessibility to Gordon Falls Reserve, include:

• Around 200m of new or renewed pathways within the reserve, most being accessible
• A new shelter structure with an accessible picnic table plus three additional picnic table settings
• A new parking area providing 16 vehicle parking spaces, including accessible parking
• Upgrade of the existing parking area to provide formalised parking and a further 11 parking spaces
• Two new mini-bus parking bays
• New precinct lighting
• New precinct signage
• New planting and garden areas to soften and integrate the new carparks and paths.

The work will start with the removal of a number of dead and declining trees that have been recommended for removal.

The civil and landscaping improvements are anticipated to be complete by the end of the year (weather permitting) and follow the construction of a new amenities building, which started late last year. The amenities building is scheduled for completion in the coming weeks but will not be open for use until the adjacent carpark works are completed.

The upgrades are the result of a precinct planning process that began in August 2022 which provided opportunities for community input to be heard and discussed.

During the works, access to Gordon Falls Lookout and the Pool of Siloam Track will largely be maintained and temporary toilets will be available until the new amenities building is completed.

Gordon Falls Reserve is being upgraded as part of the overall development of the Grand Cliff Top Walk, funded by the Australian and NSW Governments Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund. The $2.4 million upgrade to Gordon Falls Reserve is funded by the NSW Government's Western Sydney Infrastructure Grants Program, in association with Blue Mountains City Council.

March 2024

Work to improve the accessibility of Gordon Falls Reserve, Leura, is underway with the first stage of the upgrade in construction - the new amenities building.

Replacing the current amenities at the reserve, the new building will include two accessible cubicles (one with a baby change table), two ambulant cubicles and two standard cubicles.

The building features a well-ventilated design with views through to the bush beyond and is anticipated to be completed in the second quarter of 2024.

Once the amenities building is completed, the next stage of the upgrade will take place providing improvements to the carpark, footpaths and landscaping, including the planting of local native trees, shrubs and groundcovers grown from locally sourced seed.

During construction, access to walking tracks from Gordon Falls and the reserve itself will remain open whenever possible. Temporary toilets are provided in the reserve for the duration of the period that the permanent toilets are not in use.

When the amenities building is first constructed, it may appear to be raised above the current level of the northern part of the carpark. This is because the next part of the upgrade work will involve adjustments to the northern carpark area, to provide a flatter, more accessible grade.

When all the upgrade work is completed, the levels will match and provide more accessible access to the reserve.

Before work commences on the second stage of the upgrades, updated plans showing what will occur will be provided to the community.

The works at Gordon Falls Reserve are the result of a Precinct Planning process with the community that commenced in August 2022. The Precinct Plan for Gordon Falls Reserve (and Prince Henry Cliff Walk – east) was adopted by Council at the meeting on 28 February 2023.

View the Precinct Plan on Council’s website - Item 6 within the Council Business Paper (28 February 2023).

Further details about the work can be found in the News Feed below and in the FAQs to the right of the page.

View the artist's impression of the new amenities building.

Gordon Falls Reserve is being upgraded as part of the overall development of the Grand Cliff Top Walk, funded by the Australian and NSW Governments Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund. The $2.4 million upgrade to Gordon Falls Reserve is funded by the NSW Government's Western Sydney Infrastructure Grants Program, in association with Blue Mountains City Council.

The works in the reserve will be undertaken in two main stages with some preliminary works undertaken to prepare for the more significant contract works. These works are funded under the NSW Government’s WestInvest Grant program. The following stages of works will become evident in Gordon Falls Reserve :

• Preliminary Tree Removal: This will involve removal of a number of trees in the vicinity of the current Amenities building to prepare for the demolition of that building and construction of a new amenities building. A number of Pittosporum undulatum (Sweet Pittosporum) will be removed as they are weedy species in this area. There will also be a few trees removed that are dead and two larger Eucalypts that have significant structural deficiencies. In addition, a Saw Tooth Banksia and a couple of Tea Trees will be removed to make way for the new building. This work is anticipated to take place in September 2023.
  
  
• New Amenities building: A construction fence will be erected around the existing Amenities the site of the new building and part of the northern car park. The fence will define the area that will be closed for construction purposes.

Temporary Toilets will be located for public use for the duration of the works at Gordon Falls Reserve until the new facilities can be safely accessed. These temporary toilets will be maintained for the duration.

The former toilet block will be demolished a new retaining wall will be constructed and the new Amenities building constructed.

These works will commence in early October 2023 and are expected to be complete by the end of March 2024.

• Civil and landscape works: Once the Amenities building is complete a Civil Contractor will commence work with some demolition of some superseded assets, construction of new footpaths, construction of new car parking, stormwater drainage works and services installation. New signage and furniture will then be installed. Some planting and landscape restoration works will complete the package of works.

This package of works will commence from the completion of the Amenities building and likely be complete by September 2024.

At all stages Council will maintain access to walking tracks from Gordon Falls that are open. The Reserve itself will be open as far as practical within construction constraints.

The Precinct Plan for Gordon Falls Reserve (and Prince Henry Cliff Walk – east) was adopted by Council at the meeting on 28 February 2023.

To view the Precinct Plan on Council’s website CLICK HERE.

Thank you to all who contributed to the precinct planning for Gordon Falls Reserve. Your time and effort are appreciated. The Precinct Plan is better for the insight, experience and ideas provided by the community and stakeholders.

What happens next? The next step is to implement the Precinct Plan, which will happen in stages. Council has funding for some of the elements of the Plan and is yet to secure funding for other elements.

We are working on preparing detailed designs and documentation for the tender and construction of the following elements of the Precinct Plan and the Prince Henry Cilff Walk (east).

Gordon Falls Reserve

• New amenities building
• New northern car park and water sensitive drainage features
• New southern car park and water sensitive drainage features
• Upgrade of reserve including restoration of some existing furniture, installation of new furniture and signage
• Construction of new accessible path network

Prince Henry Cliff Walk

• Section of boardwalk across the landslip (around 60m)
• Upgrading of the track replacing timber steps and drains with sandstone
• Upgrading of some of the lookouts
• Construction of the 1^st section of the accessible track from Gordon Falls Reserve

We will progress this work as far as the budget will allow. As the program of works becomes clearer we will provide further updates.

Residents will be informed of proposed works well before construction commences. The works will be staged to maintain public access as far as possible. All efforts will be made to close only the parts of the Reserve and track that are under construction.

The draft Precinct Plan for Gordon Falls Reserve (and Prince Henry Cliff Walk - east) is now complete, following consideration of submissions on the Concept Designs, and will be put to the elected Council for adoption at its next meeting this Tuesday 28 February 2023.

The Council report, accompanying the draft Precinct Plan, provides a summary and analysis of submissions made during public consultation and explains our response to the key matters raised. The report also notes that budget is available to progress a portion of the Precinct Plan to construction.

To view the report and the draft Precinct Plan on Council’s website CLICK HERE (the report is Item 6 of the Meeting Agenda. To view the draft Precinct Plan on Council’s website CLICK HERE.

THANK YOU for your contribution to the precinct planning for Gordon Falls Reserve. The outcome of the Council decision will be published on this webpage on Wednesday 1 March 2023.

* COMMUNITY CONSULTATION ON THE CONCEPT DESIGNS FOR THE PRECINCT HAS NOW CLOSED *

THANK YOU for taking the time and effort to make a submission and share your thoughts. The project team will consider all community and stakeholder feedback to inform the development of the Precinct Plan. The draft Precinct Plan will be put to the elected Council for endorsement, most likely in late February 2023. Keep an eye on this page for updates.

We invite you to help shape the future of this precinct.

You are encouraged to review the material available on this web page and then complete the survey here.

Your feedback is welcome until Sunday 15 January 2023 (extended from Sunday 18 December 2022).

It is important to note that Council is not looking to change the role of the Gordon Falls Reserve as a public space and an access point to walking tracks. The purpose of the proposed upgrade is outlined above.