South Lawson Park

SOUTH LAWSON PARK UPDATE – 10 February 2022

Sediment control works

Over recent days, Council has continued to work closely with a range of experts to ensure any issues around the preparatory earthworks at South Lawson Park are identified and addressed.

Our contractor has been busy installing extra lengths of jute mesh to restrict any further erosion around the areas prepared for the shared accessible path. All impacted areas, except where the path will be laid (a strip approximately 5 meters wide) is now covered with strips of jute mesh. This mesh has also been applied to other excavated areas along the creek perimeter and the exposed areas have been grass seeded as well.

These measures have proven very effective and there is no longer any sediment escaping the immediate area. But additional measures will be installed over the next few days to further improve the sediment management within the site, in case we receive further severe weather and rain in the coming weeks.

The mesh is designed to be left in place once laid, as it naturally and safely decomposes and leaves no trace.

Remediation of historic swampland area

During site analysis with bush regeneration and ecological professionals, it has become apparent that the muddy conditions in some parts of the site are due to a groundwater flow which has been exposed by the earthworks to level for the shared accessible path. This was not previously observable, as the design for the site was developed in 2019, at the end of an extended period of drought. The shallow groundwater conditions were not able to be predicted at that time when the ground was dry and not impacted by any visible shallow groundwater.

To effectively remediate this area, Council will work with specialist contractors who are highly experienced in operating within sensitive environmental areas.

The soft condition of the ground in these areas also requires some changes to the alignment of the shared accessible path. Council will be working through these changes in the coming days.

Supporting documentation – Review of Environmental Factors

Please see the following additional documentation, relating to the assessment of this site as part of the Review of Environmental Factors (and Part 5 Assessment):

Review of Environmental Factors

https://yoursay.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/33840/widgets/192992/documents/224890

Flora and Fauna Assessment

https://yoursay.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/33840/widgets/192992/documents/224889

Arborist Report

https://yoursay.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/33840/widgets/192992/documents/224891

Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment Report

https://yoursay.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/33840/widgets/192992/documents/224893

Lawson Masterplan Drawings

https://yoursay.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/33840/widgets/192992/documents/224893

Part 5 Assessment

https://yoursay.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/33840/widgets/192992/documents/224888

Upcoming community consultation

Council officers are currently planning to run four community consultation sessions on site asap, regarding this project. The dates for these events will be publicised next week, once confirmed.

Council, like other businesses, is currently impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and Staff having to isolate, due to contracting COVID (or having family members who have contracted COVID).

We thank you for your patience while we finalise the dates and times for these consultation sessions.

There will be opportunities for the broad and local community to make submissions about this project at this time, either on-site or online.

Update on South Lawson Park sediment control - 4 February 2022

Council is pleased to advise that improved sediment control measures at South Lawson Park have now been installed.

As the community will be aware, intense storms and persistent wet weather conditions over recent weeks presented a significant challenge to the initial sediment control measures at the site.

In response, over the last week a number of improvements have been put in place to strengthen sediment controls and safeguard the health of nearby waterways, including:

• Installing jute mesh on steep areas that have been disturbed
• Installation of sediment fencing along the entire riparian zone
• Installation of additional sediment fencing in many locations including at the base of disturbed areas where there are slopes.

In a number of parts of the site the Installation of jute mesh will continue into next week.

Consultation with bush regeneration and ecological professionals has also been scheduled for early next week, to start the process of remediating the old fairway lawn which was established over swampland.

Council and our contractors continue to closely monitor and assess the controls at the site.

We thank the community for their patience as we work to manage the impact of these recent unfavourable weather events.

Update on South Lawson Park upgrade - 2 February 2022

The upgrade of South Lawson Park has been paused.

The upgrade, which includes construction of accessible path, a new fenced off leash dog area and nature play area has been impacted by various challenges since December including higher than average rainfall that has affected sediment control measures on site, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic that has affected staffing and the delivery of materials.

The pause will allow further community consultation to be conducted on fencing, the shared path and other features, including plans for bush regeneration that will increase the edge of the riparian zone to better protect Lawson Creek and Adelina Falls.

Sediment controls have been improved at the site over the past two weeks following intense storms and persistent wet weather, and further controls will be implemented over the coming days and monitored, to ensure run-off from the construction site does not affect waterways.

Read the full Media Release

Update on South Lawson Park upgrade – 28 January 2022

We know the community continues to have questions relating to the South Lawson Park upgrade.

More consultation will be held on site over the coming weeks, including more visuals that will show what the final upgrade will look like, but we hope the following answers assist in the meantime.

Please note: Parts of the area are currently a construction site that have been impacted by intense storms and persistent wet conditions in recent weeks. We understand that some who visit the area frequently have been distressed by the sight of this, and we understand this.

Some parts of the site have not been able to be properly compacted before some intense storms. This has left the working area soft and boggy. Work cannot continue in these areas until the site has dried out, and trying to do this work too soon will cause erosion, but this work will occur as soon as site conditions allow. See information below relating to sediment control issues, the removal of trees and bushland regeneration.

There is still a long way to go before we can finalise this new, accessible shared space for our community and we ask for your patience and understanding at this time.

Timing of the project

Council was required to commence this project in November/December 2021 – in order to finalise the project and meet the grant deadline of June 2022. It would have been nice to be able to postpone the upgrade, after the La Nina summer, but this was not an option.

Sediment control measures

Please be assured, since the contractors set up on site at South Lawson Park, there have been no failures of the sediment fence that was erected. But the number of intense storms and persistent wet conditions in recent weeks have impacted the site. Following inspections after rain, sediment and erosion controls have been installed this week.

Contractors have now installed:

• additional erosion control along the low points (along the partially constructed path).
• additional protection in the locations where there is a high risk of stormwater bypassing a narrow section of the silt fence.
• extended sections of silt fence where there is a risk of the silt fence damming stormwater which will flow around the sides.

The contractor will continue to improve the sediment controls next week when materials are available.

The team will also continue to review the locations and quality of the sediment control fences and hay bales to ensure they are appropriately protecting the bushland and Lawson Creek.

Removal of trees

Parts of the circular walking path are too steep to be wheelchair accessible, but the route has been designed to ensure that the grades along the path are easily walkable with no steep sections. This makes it a suitable walking option for community members who use a wide range of mobility aids.

This is why parts of the path are being built through trees and some smaller trees will be removed for the shared path. (Where the path is being built through pockets of bush, Council’s Principal Landscape Architect has ensured that the path has been placed to avoid removal of significant, rare and habitat trees.)

Building the path through trees will also provide a variety of landscape along the path for walkers and shady places on very hot days.

Bush regeneration and protection of creekline, swamp and wet areas

Along the eastern edge of the park, there will be a large area which will be reclaimed as bushland through a natural regeneration process which will increase the habitat for native animals and birds.

Increasing the edge of the riparian zone will create a wider protective buffer for Lawson Creek and Adelina Falls to further improve the water quality flowing into the Blue Mountains World Heritage National Park.

Vegetation which is removed from the dog agility area and the path construction will be used for the bushland regeneration to ensure that local seeds are used to retain the local genome for these plants.

Overall, 35,000 plants will be added to this area in time and 5,000sqm of bush regenerated. This will take 2-3 years to establish, but it will provide better protection for waterways than what exists now.

Protection of our biodiversity

This week it was discovered that a turtle’s nest was destroyed in the area, during upgrade works. One of Council’s highest priorities is caring for the environment and the City’s precious biodiversity.

Staff, who also care deeply for our previous World Heritage Area, are upset that this incident has occurred and we are looking at current processes – and how contractors are briefed on environmental matters – to ensure this type of thing never happens again.

Leading expert in turtles WSU’s Dr Ricky Spencer did report this week that he believes the planned upgrade of South Lawson Park has a lot of potential for integrating community conservation, and protection of turtles, with recreation. We support this view.

Shared path

A new circular path is being built at the park. This shared path is wider than a standard footpath and allows walkers with dogs and cyclists to use the path at the same time, safely. The standards for shared paths are from a national set of construction standards and depend on how busy the site is. The surface of the shared path will be 2.5 metres wide.

To construct the shared path, the clearing will be at least 3.5 metres wide, so grasses can be planted along the edge of the path. Where the path needs to be constructed on ground across a slope clearing it will be wider, but no wider than necessary, to ensure that there are no steep drops on the low side of the path.

The path will be made from asphalt which is extremely suitable for use in natural areas. Asphalt paths are more flexible than concrete and will not be cracked by roots growing underneath. Concrete paths were also considered to be unsuitable for construction near natural waterways as they cause significant changes to the acidity of runoff water.

Many people who participated in the community consultation also objected to bright white concrete paths which would be hard on the eyes on really hot summer days.

Fencing

Previous consultation has also included options for the type of fencing to be used on site.

Following a large number of questions from the community about the type of fencing which will be used for the dog off leash area, completion of the fencing has been put on hold so further consultation can take place.

While the fencing is on hold it is important that construction for the rest of the project is able to continue because construction delay costs are significant.

The upgrade to South Lawson Park is being done after extensive community consultation and the finalisation of both the South Lawson Park Masterplan and Plan of Management. These plans were endorsed by large numbers of stakeholders.

The dates and times of further consultation about this project on site, will be publicised next week. We urge any members of the community who are concerned to come to these events, to get more information, as there is a lot of incorrect information about this project in the public arena currently.

We also urge the community to get updates on this project from Council. You can subscribe here https://yoursay.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/lawson.

Features of the new park will include:

• Accessible paths will go from both Ferris Lane and Wilson Street towards the new dog area and continue around as a loop walk so you can enjoy the quieter outskirts of the park.
• Once inside the fenced dog off-leash area, you can choose from several tracks and play zones with opportunities to play and run and rest.
• The nature exploration area will offer opportunities for families to discover and be led by the natural features.
• Close by, grass terrace seating creates a natural amphitheatre for informal gatherings and small community events.

View the completed designs for the fenced dog off leash area and accessible path.

While construction is taking place the site will remain open to the public, however, some paths will be temporarily closed for safety, including the Ferris Lane gate. You will always be able to access the site from Wilson Street.

Construction traffic will also need to access the site to deliver materials and these trucks will travel along Staples Crescent, New Street, Adelaide Street and Wilson Street.

17/01/22 update:

In response to further questions from the community about the new path and fencing:

What is the new circular path and how wide is it?

The new circular path which is being built at South Lawson Park is a shared path. A shared path is wider than a standard footpath and allows walkers with dogs and cyclists to use the path at the same time, safely. The standards for shared paths are from a national set of construction standards and depend on how busy the site is. The surface of the shared path will be 2.5 metres wide.

The shared path will be wide enough for vehicles such as council’s maintenance and bush regeneration teams, but gates to the site will always be locked and it will not be open to public vehicles.

Parts of the circular informal walking path are too steep to be wheelchair accessible, but the route has been designed to ensure that the grades along the path are easily walkable with no steep sections. This makes it a suitable walking option for community members who use a wide range of mobility aids. This is why parts of the path are being built through trees and some smaller trees will be removed for the shared path. (Where the path is being built through pockets of bush, Council’s Principal Landscape Architect has worked with a local aborist to ensure that the path alignment avoids removal of significant, rare and habitat trees.)

Building the path through trees will also provide a variety of landscape along the path for walkers and shady places on very hot days.

Why is heavy machine necessary to build this path?

To construct the shared path, the clearing will be at least 3.5 metres wide, so grasses can be planted along the edge of the path. Where the path needs to be constructed on ground across a slope clearing it will be wider, but no wider than necessary, to ensure that there are no steep drops on the low side of the path. Some members of the community may think that the construction equipment is larger than necessary, but the machine called a drot, has been chosen because it can do all the work for the job.

What are the other paths and how wide are they?

Inside the fenced dog off-leash area the paths are footpaths as this part of the park has not been designed to include bike riders. The footpath will be 1.8 metres wide and the width of clearing will be at least 2.8 metres through any existing vegetation.

Will there be a buffer to protect the natural vegetation and wildlife habitat?

Along the eastern edge of the park, there will be a large area, that is currently mown grass, which will be reclaimed as bushland through a natural regeneration process which will increase the habitat for native animals and birds. This will create a wider protective buffer for Lawson Creek and Adelina Falls to further improve the water quality flowing into the Blue Mountains World Heritage National Park. Vegetation which is removed from the from the dog agility area and the path construction will be used for the bushland regeneration to ensure that local seeds are used to retain the local genome for these plants. (This area will be temporarily fenced with a standard stock fence while the bush regenerates which may take 2-3 years.)

Has there been consultation for these changes?

All the elements of the project have been designed following a comprehensive community consultation process. Following the community consultation, there were several changes made to the design as a direct result of requests and suggestions from residents and park users including:

• The originally proposed sports grounds are not in the Master Plan or Plan of Management.
• Significant enlargement of the fenced off-leash area
• Even more additional native landscaping and bush regeneration
• More accessible grades along the path and extra seating and rest areas
• Maintaining the heritage landscape values of the golf course fairways and vistas with an unobtrusive fence and planting changes
• A safety gate to protect dogs and children from the risks of unmanaged bushland and Adelina falls.

What is happening with the fencing?

Previous consultation has also included options for the type of fencing to be used on site.

Following a large number of questions from the community about the type of fencing which will be used for the dog off leash area, completion of the fencing has been put on hold so further consultation can take place. While the fencing is on hold it is important that construction for the rest of the project is able to continue because construction delay costs are significant.

For further details regarding this project to please refer to the FAQs on the right hand side of the page or click here.

22/12/21:

We know the community have some questions about this project, now that work is underway.

Temporary fencing has been installed in some places at South Lawson Park, and work has begun on the permanent fencing.

Council’s contractor has installed 100m of permanent fencing, so the community can see what this fencing will look like when it’s finished. Council will plant mature native species in front of this fencing in January 2022 so the community can also see how the planting will look. The planting will soften the fence and act as a visual clue to its presence.

See the recently added FAQs on the right of this page (or below if you are viewing this on a mobile device) for more information on the fencing or planting.

Council has now adopted the Masterplan and Plan of Management for South Lawson Park.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the consultation process. Construction on the park is due to begin in 2021.
Please see our news feed for regular project updates.

To view the Plan of Management which was adopted on 30 March 2021 go to: https://www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/documents/plan-of-management-south-lawson-park

To view the Masterplan which was adopted on 30 March 2021 go to: https://www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/documents/south-lawson-park-masterplan.

Features of the new park will include:

• Accessible paths will go from both Ferris Lane and Wilson Street towards the new dog area and continue around as a loop walk so you can enjoy the quieter outskirts of the park.
• Once inside the fenced dog off leash area, you can choose from several tracks and play zones with opportunities to play and run and rest.
• The nature exploration area will offer opportunities for families to discover and be led by the natural features.
• Close by, grass terrace seating creates a natural amphitheatre for informal gatherings and small community events.
• Water refill stations will be available throughout the park.
• We are increasing the edge of the riparian zone. This means planting more locally sourced natives to protect the creekline, swamp and wet areas.

The draft Plan of Management (POM) and amended Masterplan (MP) were on public exhibition from 9 December 2020 to 21 February 2021. These documents have been amended in response to the submissions. A summary of the submissions and responses, along with the amended documents, will be presented to Council on 30 March 2021.

The Business Papers will be available the Wednesday before the Council Meeting. Currently Council Meetings are being held via video conferencing to help secure the health and safety of our community, Councillors and Council staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. The community is still able to make submissions in writing, as long as these are a maximum of 500 words and identify an item on the Council meeting agenda.

For Council meeting information please click here https://www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/council-meetings

The Draft Plan of Management and Amended Masterplan for the South Lawson Park (formerly Lawson Crown Lands) is now on public exhibition seeking community input until Sunday 21 February 2021.

• A Plan of Management is a legal document to guide how the park will be managed. It establishes directions for planning, permissible uses, management and maintenance of the land. These plans are endorsed by Crown Lands and Council.
• A Masterplan is a more detailed plan that guides future design to improve function and access, facilitate social activity and amenity for residents and visitors while recognising, respecting and enhancing the existing character. Masterplans are endorsed by Council.

You can look at the two plans and provide feedback on what has been written, as well as suggest additional information to be considered. You may have seen a previous version of the Masterplan, so we encourage you to look over this updated version and let us know if the amendments meet your needs.

Completed Designs

The completed designs for the fenced dog off leash area and accessible path include:

• An accessible path will go from the Ferris Lane carpark (near Lawson Oval) past the nature exploration area and amphitheatre to the fenced dog off leash area.
• The nature exploration area will offer opportunities for families to discover and be led by the natural features such as boulders, logs and sand.
• Close by the grass terrace seating will create a natural amphitheatre for informal gatherings and small community events.
• Another accessible path will come from Wilson Street in a sweeping walkway to meet the lower entrance to the dog off leash area.
• There will be accessible loop walks between 1 and 2km long. One will follow the boundary of the dog off leash area and another will allow you to venture further, enjoying the quieter outskirts of the parklands.
• Once inside the fenced dog off leash area, you can choose from several tracks and play zones as well as areas to sit, relax and chat.
• The dog play opportunities and agility activities will include tunnels, turf mounds and long runs.
• Water refill stations will be positioned at the entrance to both the park and inside the fenced dog off leash area.
• We are increasing the edge of the riparian zone, meaning that we are planting more locally sourced natives to protect the creekline, swamp and wet areas.
• There will be additional native planting underneath the canopy in some bush areas.
• To alert users to Adelina Falls, a low fence and entrance gate will be placed along the walking track.