Gordon Falls Reserve Upgrade
The Gordon Falls Reserve Upgrades
Update: 27 September 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 remain on-track for completion in mid-Dec 2024 (weather permitting).
Currently, work includes:
- Installing the drainage for the new car park upgrade.
- Concreting the kerb along the southern car park
- Work on the lower walking track alignment and grades
- Installing footings for the track, retaining wall and the lookout.
The amenities building is almost complete. An anti-graffiti coating will soon be applied together with door locks which are networked to a remote access system. For community safety, the building will remain closed until the civil works on the adjacent new carpark are completed.
Thanks to the community for your patience while the work is underway to rejuvenate and make Gordon Falls Reserve more accessible.
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.
Update on Prince Henry Cliff Walk, Leura Upgrades
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:
Further updates are available in the news feed below.
Background:
The precinct is a popular place for residents of Leura and surrounding villages. It also has the potential to have a key role in the visitor experience of the Blue Mountains.
There is a need to upgrade the precinct to protect the environmental and cultural values of the site, meet current and future demand, improve the experience of both residents and visitors, meet current safety standards, improve residential amenity, support local economic development, and provide universal access to allow those of all abilities to enjoy the spectacular views from neighbouring lookouts.
The precinct plan will guide future upgrades of the Gordon Falls Reserve, and Elysian and Olympian Rock lookouts.
To find out more about this project, you are encouraged to read the information provided below, and in the Document Library and FAQs to the right.
It is important to note that Council is not looking to change the role of the Reserve as a public park and access point to walking tracks. The purpose of the proposed upgrade is outlined below.
Gordon Falls Reserve is located within the Country of the Dharug and Gundungurra peoples. We recognise that the Dharug and Gundungurra Traditional Owners have a continuous and deep connection to their Country and this is of great significance to Aboriginal people, both locally and in the region.
Context:
Council is preparing a Southern Escarpment Master Plan which aims to provide an integrated, co-ordinated and strategic framework to the planning of natural area visitor facilities from Katoomba to Wentworth Falls. As part of that process Council is undertaking precinct plans of the higher priority visitor precincts. Gordon Falls is one such precinct. Gordon Falls is an important visitor node within the Southern Escarpment and is identified as the mid-point of the two-day Grand Cliff Top Walk.
Find out more about the Southern Escarpment Masterplan here.
The focus of the Gordon Falls Reserve Precinct Masterplan is to:
Council is working with experienced consultants on this precinct plan, specifically to:
- Renew / upgrade the existing amenities building
- Review existing park infrastructure including seating, tables, and the children’s playground
- Review existing carparking in the reserve and surrounding streets to determine capacity and suggest improvements
- Upgrades to the walking track and Elysian and Olympian Rock Lookouts
- Investigate the feasibility of an accessible walking track to a lookout within the Reserve
About Gordon Falls Reserve:
Family-friendly Gordon Falls Reserve offers waterfalls and valley views, a great playground for the kids, and plenty of nearby walking tracks, in Leura.
A short walk from the reserve, Gordon Falls lookout offers views of the 200m cascade of Gordon Falls, as well as the stunning cliff faces of Sublime Point.
An excellent spot for birdwatching, look to the skies for peregrine falcons or scan the forest floor of lyrebirds.
For scenic valley views and wildflowers, access Prince Henry Cliff Walk from Gordon Falls Reserve. Stretching from Katoomba to Leura, this walk includes famous lookouts, iconic scenery and several hanging swamps. Gaze across to the impressive views of Mount Solitary and Kings Tableland from Elysian and Olympian Rock lookouts, and see the back of the Three Sisters, Ruined Castle and Narrowneck Plateau from Tarpeian rock.
This webpage will be progressively updated throughout the life of the project. Please subscribe to receive regular project updates directly to your inbox.
