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.
