Lawson Parklands

We’re excited to share an update on the plans for the Lawson Parklands fenced dog off-leash area and the amendments to the proposed route for the accessible path.

This project has been funded under the Western Parkland City Liveability Program, which is part of the Western Sydney City Deal (WSCD). The WSCD is a 20 year-agreement between Australian and NSW governments, and the eight local Councils of the Western Parkland City.

Join us at the Lawson Parklands

We’ll be at the Lawson Parklands on Saturday 29 February to share the updated plans, and talk about the process we’ve gone through to get here.

Time: 2-5pm
Date: Saturday 29 February
Location: Lawson Parklands, Wilson Street, Lawson

Staff will be located at the Wilson Street entrance (between the old club house and cemetery).

What happens next?

Once we’ve spoken to you about the Liveability upgrades, we’ll finalise the designs and the draft Plan of Management, which will go on public exhibition later in the year.

It will likely take 2-3 months before we come back to you with the draft Plan of Management for the Lawson Parklands.

This is because the land is Crown Land, which means the draft Plan of Management has to go to the NSW Government for approval before Council can approve it to go on public exhibition.

We are also hoping the draft designs for the Liveability upgrade will be ready at the same time, but this will depend on the process and approvals we need to go through, which includes the NSW Government and Traditional Owners.

Lawson Parklands and Traditional Owners

The Lawson Parklands is a Gundungurra listed site, and Council has an Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) with the Gundungurra people. This is a legally binding agreement, which means the final plans for what we do on the site must be approved by the traditional owners of the land.

The City of the Blue Mountains is located within the Country of the Dharug and Gundungurra peoples. Council recognises that Dharug and Gundungurra Traditional Owners have a continuous and deep connection to their Country and that this is of great cultural significance to Aboriginal people, both locally and in the region.

More information about this agreement is available in the document library on this page.

Masterplan background

Work has commenced on the detailed design of the Lawson Crown Land Masterplan Stage 1 facilities that include:

  • Increased riparian buffer planting along the boundary of what was the former golf course
  • Improved pedestrian access to surrounding streets and bush trails, and to the town centre
  • Improved detention pond for water quality to Lawson Creek, and associated play and picnic facilities
  • Loop walking/bike path and arboretum, accessible where possible with rest facilities
  • A larger fenced dog off-leash area with seating and a variety of spaces.

The implementation of the Stage 1 facilities is one of the projects co-funded by the three levels of government under Round One of the Western Parkland City Liveability Program, as part of the Western City Deal.

Public involvement in the preliminary stages of the detailed design will help to get the details right and ensure the parklands deliver the bushland restoration work and recreation areas envisaged by the public during preparation of the masterplan.

The public is invited to come to the drop in sessions on 23 and 30 November to talk to the design consultants, and review and comment on the designs for the Lawson Parklands.

We’re excited to share an update on the plans for the Lawson Parklands fenced dog off-leash area and the amendments to the proposed route for the accessible path.

This project has been funded under the Western Parkland City Liveability Program, which is part of the Western Sydney City Deal (WSCD). The WSCD is a 20 year-agreement between Australian and NSW governments, and the eight local Councils of the Western Parkland City.

Join us at the Lawson Parklands

We’ll be at the Lawson Parklands on Saturday 29 February to share the updated plans, and talk about the process we’ve gone through to get here.

Time: 2-5pm
Date: Saturday 29 February
Location: Lawson Parklands, Wilson Street, Lawson

Staff will be located at the Wilson Street entrance (between the old club house and cemetery).

What happens next?

Once we’ve spoken to you about the Liveability upgrades, we’ll finalise the designs and the draft Plan of Management, which will go on public exhibition later in the year.

It will likely take 2-3 months before we come back to you with the draft Plan of Management for the Lawson Parklands.

This is because the land is Crown Land, which means the draft Plan of Management has to go to the NSW Government for approval before Council can approve it to go on public exhibition.

We are also hoping the draft designs for the Liveability upgrade will be ready at the same time, but this will depend on the process and approvals we need to go through, which includes the NSW Government and Traditional Owners.

Lawson Parklands and Traditional Owners

The Lawson Parklands is a Gundungurra listed site, and Council has an Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) with the Gundungurra people. This is a legally binding agreement, which means the final plans for what we do on the site must be approved by the traditional owners of the land.

The City of the Blue Mountains is located within the Country of the Dharug and Gundungurra peoples. Council recognises that Dharug and Gundungurra Traditional Owners have a continuous and deep connection to their Country and that this is of great cultural significance to Aboriginal people, both locally and in the region.

More information about this agreement is available in the document library on this page.

Masterplan background

Work has commenced on the detailed design of the Lawson Crown Land Masterplan Stage 1 facilities that include:

  • Increased riparian buffer planting along the boundary of what was the former golf course
  • Improved pedestrian access to surrounding streets and bush trails, and to the town centre
  • Improved detention pond for water quality to Lawson Creek, and associated play and picnic facilities
  • Loop walking/bike path and arboretum, accessible where possible with rest facilities
  • A larger fenced dog off-leash area with seating and a variety of spaces.

The implementation of the Stage 1 facilities is one of the projects co-funded by the three levels of government under Round One of the Western Parkland City Liveability Program, as part of the Western City Deal.

Public involvement in the preliminary stages of the detailed design will help to get the details right and ensure the parklands deliver the bushland restoration work and recreation areas envisaged by the public during preparation of the masterplan.

The public is invited to come to the drop in sessions on 23 and 30 November to talk to the design consultants, and review and comment on the designs for the Lawson Parklands.

  • Drop-in session - 29 February 2020

    8 days ago

    We’ll be at the Lawson Parklands to share the updated plans, and talk about the process we’ve gone through to get here.

    Time: 2-4pm
    Date: Saturday 29 February
    Location: Lawson Parklands, Wilson Street, Lawson

    Staff will be located at the Wilson Street entrance (between the old club house and cemetery).

    We’ll be at the Lawson Parklands to share the updated plans, and talk about the process we’ve gone through to get here.

    Time: 2-4pm
    Date: Saturday 29 February
    Location: Lawson Parklands, Wilson Street, Lawson

    Staff will be located at the Wilson Street entrance (between the old club house and cemetery).

  • Community drop in sessions - November 2019

    4 months ago

    Join us for a community drop in session where you can review and comment on the Lawson Parklands, including the new shared walking area and bike path, the larger fenced dog off-leash area and other improvements.

    • Saturday 23 November Lawson Mechanics Institute, 284 Great Western Highway, 1-4pm

    • Saturday 30 November Mavis Wood Hall, Mid Mountains Neighbourhood Centre, 7 New Street, Lawson, 1-4pm
    Can’t make a community drop in session?

    You will be able to review and comment on the Lawson Parklands concepts through a feedback form which will be available from Saturday 23 November right here on this page.

    Join us for a community drop in session where you can review and comment on the Lawson Parklands, including the new shared walking area and bike path, the larger fenced dog off-leash area and other improvements.

    • Saturday 23 November Lawson Mechanics Institute, 284 Great Western Highway, 1-4pm

    • Saturday 30 November Mavis Wood Hall, Mid Mountains Neighbourhood Centre, 7 New Street, Lawson, 1-4pm
    Can’t make a community drop in session?

    You will be able to review and comment on the Lawson Parklands concepts through a feedback form which will be available from Saturday 23 November right here on this page.

  • Implementation of the Masterplan

    4 months ago

    Council adopted the Lawson Crown Lands Masterplan on 25 June 2019 and is proceeding with the detailed design of the Stage One facilities that include:

    • Increased riparian buffer planting along the boundary of what was the former golf course
    • Improved pedestrian access to surrounding streets and bush trails, and to the town centre
    • Improved detention pond for water quality to Lawson Creek, and associated play and picnic areas
    • Circular walking path and arboretum, accessible where possible with rest facilities
    • A fenced dog off-leash area with seating and a variety of spaces.

    The masterplan was developed with extensive community consultation and supports achievement of our community strategic objective creating vibrant places for people to live, work and play. The draft masterplan was publicly exhibited from Wednesday 6 March to Thursday 4 April 2019 and submissions received up until COB 18 April 2019.

    You can access the final masterplan and supporting documents are available in the document library.

    Please note the masterplan is conceptual and does not represent a development proposal or development options.

    Construction of Stage One is subject to detailed design and further public consultation. Stage Two is subject to further investigation on the need for sporting facilities, amenity and environmental matters.

    Council adopted the Lawson Crown Lands Masterplan on 25 June 2019 and is proceeding with the detailed design of the Stage One facilities that include:

    • Increased riparian buffer planting along the boundary of what was the former golf course
    • Improved pedestrian access to surrounding streets and bush trails, and to the town centre
    • Improved detention pond for water quality to Lawson Creek, and associated play and picnic areas
    • Circular walking path and arboretum, accessible where possible with rest facilities
    • A fenced dog off-leash area with seating and a variety of spaces.

    The masterplan was developed with extensive community consultation and supports achievement of our community strategic objective creating vibrant places for people to live, work and play. The draft masterplan was publicly exhibited from Wednesday 6 March to Thursday 4 April 2019 and submissions received up until COB 18 April 2019.

    You can access the final masterplan and supporting documents are available in the document library.

    Please note the masterplan is conceptual and does not represent a development proposal or development options.

    Construction of Stage One is subject to detailed design and further public consultation. Stage Two is subject to further investigation on the need for sporting facilities, amenity and environmental matters.

  • Dogs in bushland areas

    12 months ago

    Council acknowledges that the safety of dogs in the proposed dog off-leash area is of interest to dog owners, particularly in relation to the amount of treed versus grassed space, and the potential for snakes. Council will consider all feedback on the draft masterplan and attempt to address concerns raised by dog owners in the detailed design process which will follow the masterplanning process. The detailed designs of facilities that are proposed in Stage 1 of the draft masterplan will be placed on public exhibition in the future for further public comment.

    Council acknowledges that the safety of dogs in the proposed dog off-leash area is of interest to dog owners, particularly in relation to the amount of treed versus grassed space, and the potential for snakes. Council will consider all feedback on the draft masterplan and attempt to address concerns raised by dog owners in the detailed design process which will follow the masterplanning process. The detailed designs of facilities that are proposed in Stage 1 of the draft masterplan will be placed on public exhibition in the future for further public comment.

  • Encouraging start to exhibition of draft masterplan

    12 months ago

    The public exhibition of the draft masterplan is underway with significant community interest. Initial responses are positive with a high level of support for improved pedestrian pathways and retention of existing sports facilities, while support for fencing the dog off-leash area is mixed. Residents are encouraged to view the information in the Library and provide feedback via Submission Form.



    The public exhibition of the draft masterplan is underway with significant community interest. Initial responses are positive with a high level of support for improved pedestrian pathways and retention of existing sports facilities, while support for fencing the dog off-leash area is mixed. Residents are encouraged to view the information in the Library and provide feedback via Submission Form.