Mount Victoria Village Recovery Package

Mount Victoria was significantly impacted by the Black Summer 2019-20 (and 2013) bushfires and Council has been actively pursuing funding to support a range of upgrades and initiatives that will help reinvigorate this historic area.

Find out more about this exciting package of works below.

Mount Victoria Village Recovery Package - Memorial Park and carpark update

1 July 2024

Upgrades at Mount Victoria Memorial Park, funded by the Mount Victoria Village Recovery package, are now largely complete.

Fencing around the new path will be removed in one to two weeks, once the new turf has settled.

However, the carpark has yet to receive its final coats of bitumen sealing and will remain closed until this takes place.

The delay in the sealing is due to the current cold and often wet weather. To ensure the best finish possible, the project contractor has recommended this work be undertaken when the weather is a little warmer, likely in around a month. The unfavourable site conditions are also due to the carpark area being shaded throughout winter and that the surface is not drying to a sufficient degree for the bitumen work to be done.

We apologise for the delay and will keep the community updated once a new timeframe for the bitumen work is known.

Mount Victoria Village Recovery Package - project update

17 June 2024

Since works began last year following community consultation and feedback, a range of improvements and support initiatives have been delivered in Mount Victoria Village, with several more anticipated to be completed over the coming month.

New Sculpture Installation

A new sculptural artwork ‘Pagoda Woman’ by local artist Clara Hali has been installed at Mount Victoria Memorial Park as a significant part of the park upgrades.

The sculpture references the 2019 bush fires and the subsequent exposed landscapes and rock formations within the Blue Mountains. It aims to address and integrate the influence of the landscape through a bronze, abstracted figurative form.

“Once the sculpture was installed, I could see how well the texture and the patina on the surface of Pagoda Woman related to the grottoes nearby,” Clara said. “It wasn’t particularly planned but it just indicates to me that I was well attuned to the site.”

For more background on the sculpture, please read the media release.

Recovery Package Program Updates

Village Marketing and Promotion

New Mount Victoria Visitor Information Sign: installed in May 2024.
New Mount Victoria Heritage Trail with interactive online narratives and audio. descriptions: https://www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/mount-victoria-heritage-trail. Installation of plaques is due for completion in June 2024.
Visitor attraction signage (Historic Property or Site) application is underway.

Village Amenity

Heritage staircase: upgraded in February 2023.
Planter upgrade: completed along the Great Western Highway in January 2024.
A new seat on Station Street: installed in April 2024.
Tree planting on Station Street: completed in May 2024.
Mount Victoria Village Wall: completed in May 2024.

Technology

Package installed in March 2024 and collecting data, including:
- People Counters at the amenities block
- Local Weather Station
- Bin Sensors
- A sensor for the accessible parking space in the village carpark will be installed following completion of the carpark upgrade: expected end of June 2024.

Carpark and Water Channel Upgrade (Mount Victoria Memorial Park)

Carpark: 75% complete, expected completion by end of June 2024, weather permitting.
Stormwater Channel and Biofiltration System: 40% complete with further work to follow.
Drainage: Completed near the amenities block
Paths and Landscaping: 90% complete.

Business Support Package

Mentoring and workshops held for local business owners: September 2023 - February 2024.
Advertising for Mount Victoria in the Blue Mountains Tourism Magazine (Autumn and Winter 2024 editions).
Image Library: Professional photography shoot to create a library for businesses to use to promote their business and Mount Victoria Village.
Visitor Information brochure with map – 7,000 copies printed and distributed to businesses and Visitor Information Centres in the Blue Mountains and surrounding LGAs.

Mount Victoria Memorial Park Renewals

Formal entrance and seating: completed in May 2024.
New pathways: completed in May 2024.
Sculptural artwork: installed in May 2024.
New landscaping: 90% complete.

A selection of photos of the completed works are available in the 'Photo' tab to the right of this page.

Despite periods of extreme wet weather impacting works, particularly at the park, the upgrades are progressing well. We look forward to celebrating their completion with the community soon.

Works commence - Monday, 5 February 2024

Update - 12 February 2024

Work to enhance the accessibility of Mount Victoria Memorial Park, with new footpaths and an improved parking area started on Monday, 5 February 2024.

The upgrades are the next stage of the Mount Victoria Village Recovery Package and include:

A new formal entrance to the park at Station Street with paved entry and seating.
A new village entrance sandstone plinth, in keeping with the heritage streetscape.
Accessible footpaths linking Station Street, the amenities block and village carpark.
Removal of the existing path from Station Street to the amenities block, which is in poor condition.
Installation of a new sculptural artwork.
Continued work on stormwater management.
Carpark improvements (to start in late February 2024)

View the park upgrade plans here and landscape plans here.

Once work starts, there will be some disturbance to the park’s main entrance from Station Street. However, access will be maintained so visitors can still reach the amenities building in the park.

Visitors can also use the entrance from the Great Western Highway or enter from the Montgomery Street carpark (until work on the carpark starts in late February 2024).

From 5 February, construction work at the park will take place between 7am – 6pm Monday to Friday and 8am – 1pm on Saturdays.

At times, the work will involve some noise. However, disturbance to nearby residents and businesses will be reduced as much as possible.

Construction traffic will be managed by BMCC’s principal contractor engaged for the works. Some additional traffic will be using Station Street and Montgomery Street during the upgrades.

The park upgrades are anticipated to be completed by mid-April 2024 (weather permitting).

In addition to the park upgrades, a range of Village Centre improvements are also expected to be installed from February 2024. This includes:

New street trees on Station Street
New street furniture and planters
A new Mount Victoria Heritage Trail and Visitor Information Sign
Bin sensors: to monitor the level of waste in rubbish bins, to aid in monitoring and collection routines.
People counters: to count visitors to Mount Victoria Memorial Park and monitor the usage of facilities.
An accessible parking bay sensor: to provide information on availability of the upgraded accessible parking bay.
A weather station: to provide localised environmental information.

Over two days in mid-to-late February, the amenities building will be closed to the public so that some of the counting sensors and associated technology can be installed. The dates of the closure will be communicated to the community once confirmed.

We appreciate the community’s patience and understanding while the work is being undertaken.

About the Mount Victoria Village Recovery Package

Under the Australian Government’s Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants Program, Council has secured almost $900,000 to deliver a package of works for Mount Victoria Village Centre.

This comprehensive renewal package will support social and economic recovery through a range of initiatives identified with the Mount Victoria community. It will provide a number of important upgrades to infrastructure and enhancements to village amenity.

Between late 2022 and mid 2024, the following improvements and support will be provided:

Improved village marketing and promotion
An interpretative heritage trail to guide visitors through the village and a new Visitor Information Sign to promote local experiences.

Enhanced village centre amenity
New planting, street trees and seating to revitalise the village. Formal closure of middle section of the heritage staircase at the Great Wester Highway and improved visual amenity to the immediate area of the heritage staircase.

Mount Victoria Memorial Park renewals
A renewed entrance to the park, carpark upgrade including upgrade of the adjacent storm water channel, accessible footpaths, visual amenity improvements to the park water fountain and sculptural installations by local artists.

Mount Victoria Memorial Park Public Art - A public Expressions of Interest process to commission a new sculptural artwork for Mount Victoria Memorial Park closed on 6 April, 2023. Local sculptor Clara Hali has been selected to develop the new work. Read more about this artwork commission and Clara’s practice here.

Technology
A local weather station to improve bushfire threat knowledge and smart sensors to improve asset management; and

Business support package
Mentoring and resources to equip local businesses to better prepare for disasters and enable them to build a strong business support network.

The project will empower and build a stronger community by supporting the social, economic and built environment recovery through:

better facilities for residents,
visitor marketing opportunities,
business support, and
improved access and amenity.

Read the media release.

View the draft scoping document.

Please subscribe to this project (on the top-right of this page) to be notified when engagement opportunities commence and receive further updates.
This project received grant funding from the Australian Government.