FAQs
- Their ability to thrive in an urban environment as well as the cool climate of Katoomba.
- Their ability to make the most of the enhanced growing conditions provided by the project (see below).
- The overall size and form of the tree to create a grand boulevard.
- Seasonal colour.
- large trees of uniform shape to create a grand boulevard for locals and visitors enjoying a walk, cycle or drive between Katoomba town centre and the Three Sisters at Echo Point;
- striking seasonal colour with cooling shade in summer and light on the street in winter;
- proven examples of the species flourishing in the Upper Mountains' climate and urban conditions;
- fire-retardancy;
- availability of advanced, consistent, high-quality stock.
Why is Lurline Street being upgraded?
Lurline Street links Katoomba Town Centre to Echo Point and the Three Sisters. As such it is the gateway to the Blue Mountains most famous attraction visited by around three million people a year.
It is also an important local thoroughfare to shops, services, Katoomba Public, St Canices Primary and Katoomba High School. The street is not as steep as alternative routes such as Katoomba Street, and is therefore the most popular route for walking and cycling.
The project to restore Lurline Street as a tree-lined boulevard was community initiated and continues to be community-driven. In 2009, following resident advocacy, a feasibility study by Council for street planting in Lurline Street recommended that the above ground electrical powerlines be relocated underground to allow for the planting of large trees. It also recommended that a full upgrade of street infrastructure be part of the works. These recommendations were supported by an independent study in 2015.
Will the streetscape improvements be undertaken along all of Lurline Street?
The Treeline Lurline project extends 1.6 kilometres along Lurline Street from the junction with Waratah Street at the bottom of the Katoomba Town Centre where power is already underground to Forster Road on the approach to Echo Point where power is also undergrounded.
A Federal Government grant has funded the concept designs for all seven blocks. Detailed design and construction of the first section from Waratah to Merriwa Streets is also covered by this grant. Further funding will be sought to complete the other six blocks.
The top of Lurline St from Gang Gang to Waratah is not included in the concept designs because the steep topography of this block will require very different treatment. It would be a stand-alone project.
What works have been undertaken to date?
Numerous investigations have been undertaken over the last year including a site survey, detailed underground service investigations, site soil tests, traffic and pedestrian counts, mapping of Council’s stormwater system and geotechnical assessment.
Preliminary designs for underground electrical cables to replace the overhead powerlines and for new lighting have been completed for the full seven blocks of the project with detailed designs for Block One from Waratah to Merriwa completed and are currently with Endeavour Energy for approval.
The designs for tree-planting, cycleway, footpath, new paving and street furniture are more than 50% complete with draft designs on public exhibition this month.
What work will be undertaken to make the street safer?
A new pedestrian crossing will be included on the street close to Merriwa Street. This will provide a safe and clear crossing, particularly for school children and their carers, walking to and from the public school and high school. The crossing will also provide traffic calming to the street and help to reduce traffic speeds.
Kerb alignments have been changed to narrow the intersections and overall road width and create room on each side for a dedicated cycleway next to the footpath. This narrower road combined with the trees set in the parking bays will help reduce traffic speeds for a safer road environment.
The narrower road creates room for a cycleway next to the footpath on each side of the road as part of the design for the whole street. During the first stage of the works this will be constructed as a shared path that can be easily converted to a dedicated cycleway when there are enough street blocks to make it viable. This separation of cyclists from cars and buses will improve safety.
An additional pedestrian crossing has been proposed at Kurrawan Street, which is a high use area for Katoomba High School. This will be further investigated at a later date when funding becomes available for the rest of the works along the street.
Will the bus stops on Lurline St be retained?
The two existing bus stops between Waratah and Merriwa Street will be combined into one bus stop close to the RSL entrance in the middle of the block. Along the rest of Lurline Street, the bus stops will be retained. Some minor relocations may be proposed. This will be investigated when funding becomes available for the rest of the works along the street.
Will my driveway be retained?
Yes. All existing driveways will be retained in their current locations.
Who is providing the funding for the work?
The Treeline Lurline Project was initiated and developed by Katoomba Chamber of Commerce & Community and its Treeline Lurline Steering Committee of local residents, businesses and community groups. The project is consistent with Council's Draft Katoomba Masterplan.
Stage One has been funded by the Australian Federal Government’s Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Program with a $4,004,275 grant to Katoomba Chamber of Commerce & Community (KCCC).
Bendigo Community Bank Blue Mountains is a sponsor and community partner and The National Trust Blue Mountains Branch and Blue Mountains Tourism are community partners.
Blue Mountains City Council is also providing in-kind contributions including survey, design and planning assistance.
Who is managing the project?
Blue Mountains City Council is the project manager. It has a joint Project Control Group with the Katoomba Chamber.
The community Steering Committee convened by the Katoomba Chamber continues to advise and support the project and monitors progress for the grant reporting.
Who will undertake maintenance of the street upgrades after they are completed?
Council will continue to be responsible for the ongoing maintenance of the road and footpaths, street furniture, trees and garden beds. Endeavour Energy will be responsible for ongoing maintenance of the underground electrical cables and the street lights.
What tree species and planting will be used?
The avenue of street trees will consist of mostly large deciduous trees to provide seasonal colour with winter sun and summer shade. Many in the community also have a strong interest in using local native species and therefore the street trees along Lurline Street will also include a number of native trees at key locations.
The tree species will be selected based on:
Will the trees affect the footpath and road pavement on Lurline St?
New tree planting has been located in between formalised on-street parking bays. Underneath the parking bays a continuous soil trench will be provided to ensure sufficient soil volumes for good tree health. Investigations have already confirmed good soil depth above the bedrock. The parking bays will feature a porous surface to provide water for the trees and improve stormwater run-off. Honeycomb-like structural cells will be installed under the surface of the parking bays to prevent soil compaction around the roots. These measures will benefit tree growth and mitigate roots encroaching on paved surfaces.
How will the trees get water?
The parking bays will be paved with a special porous asphalt that allows rainwater to filter through into the soil.
During the first few years, until they are established, the trees will also be irrigated using water carts if there is not sufficient rainfall during hot and dry conditions.
Will there be a cycleway provided as part of the works?
A new cycle path will be constructed along each side of Lurline Street. The cycle paths will be one way in each direction. Initially the cycle path will be constructed as a shared path. This is because the first stage of the upgrade only covers a few hundred meters of Lurline St, which is not long enough for a cycle path. The shared path will be converted into a full cycle lane in the future, once further funding is secured. The kerb re-alignment will already have established the capacity for this.
The overall width of the shared path will increase from the approximate 3m width of the existing footpath to approximately 4m.
What pavement material will be used?
The pavements will include porous asphalt for the parking bays, and a mixture of feature paving and asphalt for the shared path.
Will the street lights be upgraded?
Yes. New streetlights are proposed as part of the project and will be installed to meet the lighting standards for the street. This will result in an improvement in the lighting of Lurline Street.
Will all the overhead poles and wires be removed on Lurline St?
Preliminary electrical undergrounding designs for the entire seven blocks of the project were commissioned by the Katoomba Chamber and sponsored by Bendigo Community Bank Katoomba. Funding from the Chamber’s Federal Government Grant only covers undergrounding of the poles and wires along the first block of Lurline St (between Waratah St and Merriwa St). More funding will be sought to continue the work along the rest of Lurline St.
Will accessibility along Lurline St be improved?
The existing slope along the seven blocks of the project is a relatively easy grade.
Accessibility will be improved by the new paved surfaces and the widened space available for pedestrians and cyclists. It will also be improved by removing obstacles from the street such as power poles and unnecessary street poles.
Where possible, suitable crossfalls (the slope) from the property to the kerb will be improved.
Seating and other street furniture along the street will facilitate people of all ages and abilities resting along the way.
Will there be any heritage interpretation or art and sculpture along the street?
Yes. Council is currently working with the Treeline Lurline Steering Committee and Arts and Heritage working group to develop a heritage art walk along the street. Once the key elements of this have been identified, Expressions of Interest will be held for artists to submit ideas for the proposed elements. Community consultation will continue as the ideas and designs progress.
Will the improvements be undertaken all the way down Lurline Street?
The Treeline Lurline project extends 1.6 kilometres along Lurline Street from the junction with Waratah Street at the bottom of the Katoomba town centre, where power is already underground, to Forster Road on the approach to Echo Point from where power is also undergrounded.
A Federal Government grant has funded the concept designs for all seven blocks. Detailed design and construction of the first section from Waratah to Merriwa Streets is also covered by this grant. Further funding will be sought to complete the other six blocks.
The completion of the first block of renewal of urban infrastructure to a high standard will be an exemplar and hopefully a catalyst for future funding to continue the grand boulevard all the way to Echo Point.
Why didn’t the project include the first block of Lurline Street from Gang Gang?
The block from Gang Gang to Waratah Street is not included in the project because the steep topography will require very different treatment. It will need to be a stand-alone project.
The project is also intended to be a central link in the walk that starts at the top of town at the Railway Station, progresses down Katoomba Street for one block through the Central Business District, turns into Waratah Street for one block and then progresses down Lurline Street and Echo Point Road to Echo Point. This is already the established pedestrian route.
What types of trees will be planted?
Liquidambar styraciflua, a medium to large deciduous tree, will be planted as the main tree species.
Why was this particular tree species selected?
The final choice was from a short list drawn up by the City Council's and Treeline Lurline's arborists and landscapers. It was based on detailed considerations of criteria for urban street trees and the project’s vision in the grant application. Key criteria include:
The tree species' popularity, sustainable maintenance and capacity to make the most of the optimum conditions were also considerations.
What are the expected maximum heights of the trees? How long will this take?
15 to 20 metres in the next 20 to 25 years.
Will native species be planted?
The Liquidambars will be complemented by street gardens at all intersections planted with mostly native species and cultivars that have also been successful in our cool climate urban environment.
Will the trees be in the road or footpath?
The trees will be in small garden beds on either side of the road in the parking lanes.
How many trees will be planted?
For Block One from Waratah to Merriwa, 21 Liquidambars will be planted with an initial height of around 4 to 5 metres.
Will the trees reduce parking?
Careful rationalisation of the free-form parking into formal bays The street tree plan for the first block from Waratah to Merriwa has resulted in the loss of, at most, one parking space during the day. The new timed bus-stop will increase parking at night. Careful consideration to minimise loss of parking spaces will continue for future stages down the street.
Will the trees roots or branches harm infrastructure on Lurline Street?
The new tree planting has been located between on-street parking bays. Underneath the parking bays a continuous soil trench will ensure sufficient soil volumes for good tree health. Investigations have already confirmed more than adequate soil depth above the bedrock.
The parking bays will be paved with a porous surface to filter water to the trees and improve stormwater run-off.
Honeycomb-like structures, called stratavault cells, installed under the surface of the parking bays will sustain an uncompacted soil substrate to encourage root growth while also providing structural support for the road surface.
Longitudinal root barriers will prevent root growth encroaching under the road carriageway and footpath.
The careful selection of high quality advanced tree stock by our consulting arborists and landscape architect has ensured we start with healthy stock. Formative pruning in the early years will further strengthen and shape the trees to prevent weak limbs and breakage.
These measures will benefit tree growth and mitigate roots and branches encroaching on infrastructure or traffic.
How will the trees get water?
The trees will be in small garden beds. The parking bays beside them will be paved with a porous asphalt that allows rainwater to filter through into the soil.
The trees will be watered by Council during their early years if there is insufficient rain.
Will the trees create a fire corridor?
No. On the contrary, it is intended that the trees and gardens will form a fire shelter belt to help reduce radiant heat, winds and ember attacks generated by bushfire that are the main threat to properties. Combined with the water sensitive urban design and stratavault cells that will improve moisture retention in the trees and soil, this will reduce bushfire risk to properties. Undergrounding the power lines further reduces the risk of fire.
What is being done to make the street safer?
A new pedestrian crossing will be installed between Waratah and Merriwa Streets. This will provide a safe crossing, particularly for school children and their carers, walking to and from the Katoomba Public, St Canices Primary and Katoomba High School. The crossing will also provide traffic calming to the street and help to reduce traffic speeds.
An additional pedestrian crossing has been proposed at Kurrawan Road, which is a high use area for Katoomba High School. This will be further investigated at a later date when funding becomes available for the rest of the works along the street.
Infrastructure for a dedicated cycleway next to the footpath on each side of the road is also part of the design for the whole street, see below.
Will there be a cycleway?
Stage One includes kerb re-alignment and aggregate paving for a dedicated one-way cycleway on each side of the street beside the footpath. However, the cycleway and footpath will initially be signed as a wide 'shared path' for walkers and wheelers. This is because the first stage of the works only covers a few hundred meters of Lurline Street. This is not long enough to be practical as a cycle path.
When funding is secured to deliver the remaining six blocks of the project, the dedicated cycleway will be formalised running all the way down Lurline Street as an important part of the project vision.
What pavement material will be used?
The pavement materials will be varied: porous asphalt for the parking bays, decorative asphalt for the footpath, aggregate in the same style as Echo Point paving for the cycleway and feature paving at junctions with locally themed designs.
Example images of decorative asphalt:
Will the overhead poles and wires be removed on Lurline Street?
The electrical infrastructure is currently being relocated underground on Lurline Street between Waratah and Merriwa Streets (March-May 2024). Designs for the powerlines to be undergrounded from Merriwa to Forster have been completed. Further funding is required to carry out these works.
The power is already undergrounded in the town centre up Katoomba Street. It is also undergrounded from Forster Road to Echo Point.
What will happen to the street lights on the power poles?
New streetlights have been designed to meet current standards and will be installed in conjunction with the power undergrounding from Waratah to Merriwa Streets. This will improve street lighting for the block.
Will accessibility along Lurline Street be improved?
The existing slope along the seven blocks of the project is a relatively easy grade which explains why the street is already the most walked and cycled route between the town and escarpment.
Accessibility will be improved by the new paved surfaces and the widened space available for pedestrians and cyclists. It will also be improved by removing obstacles from the street such as power poles and redundant signage.
Seating and other street furniture will facilitate people of all ages and abilities resting along the way.
Will there be heritage interpretation?
Yes. Council is currently working on a whole-of-Katoomba heritage walk that would include both Katoomba Street and Lurline with wayfinding signage to other important sites such as the Gully.
Council’s heritage staff are working with the Treeline Lurline’s Lead Designer and its Arts & Heritage working group to develop specific interpretative elements for Lurline Street’s first block. Street furniture and feature paving will also provide opportunity for designs that reference local heritage themes.
What works have been undertaken to date?
Numerous investigations have been undertaken including a site survey, detailed underground service investigations, site soil tests, traffic and pedestrian counts, mapping of Council’s stormwater system and geotechnical assessment.
The electrical designs for undergrounding power in Block One have been completed and approved by Endeavour Energy. The construction has been contracted and began on 4 March 2024. The works, including installation of new lighting, will be completed by late May or early June 2024.
Concept designs for undergrounding power and new lighting have also been completed for the other six blocks of the project.
Draft designs for civil works including tree-planting, cycleway, footpath, new paving and street furniture were publicly exhibited last November and have since been finalised. They have received planning approvals. Tenders for these civil works for Block One opened on 9 April and closed on 30 April with the intention that the work will start in June 2024.
Who is paying for the project?
The Treeline Lurline Project was initiated and developed by Katoomba Chamber of Commerce & Community and its Treeline Lurline Steering Committee of local residents, businesses and community groups. The project has developed from a 2009 feasibility study undertaken by the Council for street tree planting in Lurline Street. It is consistent with the 2023 Katoomba Master Plan and is an important element of it.
Stage One has been funded by the Australian Federal Government’s Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Program with a $4,004,275 grant to Katoomba Chamber of Commerce & Community.
Bendigo Community Bank Katoomba is a sponsor and community partner. The National Trust Blue Mountains Branch and Blue Mountains Tourism are community partners.
Katoomba Chamber of Commerce & Community continues to provide extensive volunteer support to most aspects of the project through its Treeline Lurline Steering Committee and Project Control Group delegates.
Blue Mountains City Council is also providing in-kind contributions with assistance on survey, design, planning and project management.
Who is managing the project?
Blue Mountains City Council is managing the project as the government authority responsible for local roads. The Katoomba Chamber of Commerce & Community manages the funds it has received for Stage One of the project from the Federal Government Grant, Bendigo Community Bank Katoomba sponsorship and other smaller contributions.
There is a Project Manager contracted by the Council who convenes a joint Project Control Group with delegates from the Council and Chamber.
The volunteer Steering Committee that initiated the project is convened by the Katoomba Chamber and meets monthly to advise and support the project and monitor progress for the grant reporting.
Who will maintain the new street infrastructure, trees and gardens?
Council will continue to be responsible for the ongoing maintenance of the road and footpaths, street furniture, trees and garden beds.
Endeavour Energy will be responsible for ongoing maintenance of the underground electrical cables and the street lights.
A consulting arborist will care for the street trees in their early years, including their formative pruning. The Katoomba Chamber has committed to securing funds for this.
Who was consulted about the project?
Since 2019 there have been ongoing opportunities for public feedback and ideas.
Jan 2019–Present
Treeline Lurline Facebook page established. The page allows public posts and comments and links to the Treeline Lurline website and the Council web page for the project.
06 Feb 2019
Treeline Lurline public forum, hosted by the Katoomba Chamber of Commerce & Community and its new Treeline Lurline working group at Carrington Hotel.
Event promoted by social media, Katoomba Chamber newsletter, letterboxing Lurline Street and surrounds, Lurline street stalls.
14 Feb 2019
Meet the Candidates public forum for the State Election hosted by Katoomba Chamber. Treeline Lurline is a key item of discussion. The project receives support from all election candidates.
Feb 2019–Present
Updates and discussion at monthly meetings of Katoomba Chamber of Commerce & Community. (Membership of the Chamber is open to Blue Mountains residents and businesses.)
Nov 2019
Public Exhibition for Blue Mountains City Council Draft Local Strategic Planning Statement. The LSPS (approved in March 2020) includes as Priority Action 7.8 an upgrade of the Lurline streetscape.
Opportunity to engage is promoted by Council forums, social media, website and Blue Mountains Gazette articles and advertising; Katoomba Chamber meetings.
2022
Treeline Lurline power point presentations with Q&A
o Rotary Club of Upper Blue Mountains
o Rotary Club of Central Blue Mountains
o Katoomba Chamber of Commerce & Community
Oct–Dec 2022
Public exhibition of Blue Mountains City Council's Draft Katoomba Master Plan .
Lurline Street is the 'spine' for all Place Vitality Criteria and proposals. The Treeline Lurline project is outlined across two pages and receives the most positive submissions of any proposal in the Master Plan.
Opportunity to engage is promoted by Council and Treeline Lurline websites and social media; Council community forums, rates notices/ Community Snapshot; Katoomba Chamber newsletter and meetings; Blue Mountains Gazette articles and advertisements.
Feb 2023
First Nations Afternoon Tea hosted by Aunty Carol Cooper
Invitation extended through hand delivered letters, Council's First Nations Officers and Blue Mountains Aboriginal Culture & Resource Centre.
Jun–Jul 2023
Public exhibition for submissions on the Treeline Lurline project.
Opportunity to engage is promoted by Council and Treeline Lurline websites and social media; Council rates notices/ Community Snapshot; Katoomba Chamber newsletter and meetings; letterboxing Lurline Street and surrounds; Blue Mountains Gazette article and advertisement.
Nov 2023
Council Public exhibition of Treeline Lurline Draft Designs.
23 Nov 2023
Drop-in information session, Alex Allen Park.
Opportunity to engage is promoted by Council and Treeline Lurline websites and social media; Council rates notices/ Community Snapshot; Katoomba Chamber newsletter and meetings; letterboxing Lurline Street and surrounds; Blue Mountains Gazette article and advertisement.
In addition, Councillors, individuals and community groups have been able to publicly speak about the project at any Council meeting when it is part of reported items for approval. This opportunity has been taken up by both councillors and members of the public.