Wentworth Falls Lake Precinct upgrades

A draft Review of Environmental Factors (REF) regarding construction of the dam and spillway upgrades at Wentworth Falls Lake is now available.

The REF, included in the public tender documentation for the upgrades, is a draft version, based on the construction method that would have the most impact on the lake (a water drawdown). It is only provided for the purpose of capturing the risk and cost implication from procurement activities.

Council has not made a determination on what construction method will be used in the upgrade of the dam and spillway.

• View the REF here.

The REF appendices are also available at the links below:

• Appendix B - NorBE Assessment.pdf
• Appendix E1 - Biodiversity Assessment.pdf
• Appendix E2 - Addendum Report - Biodiversity Assessment Report.pdf
• Appendix F - Aboriginal Heritage Due Diligence Assessment.pdf
• Appendix G - Heritage Impact Statement.pdf
• Appendix H - Noise and Vibration Assessment.pdf
• Appendix I - Geological Assessment.pdf
• Appendix J - Traffic Impact Assessment.pdf

A note on the appendices:

• A summary of consultation feedback with relevant public agencies (Appendix D) is included within the REF.
• Appendix F2 and K are provided to tenderers on request.
• Appendix C is provided to tenderers only.

18 December 2023

Thank you to everyone who completed our feedback survey and provided their thoughts on the information and design materials presented at our recent community information sessions (and below).

All feedback will be reviewed and considered and a summary report will be provided in the new year.

27 November 2023

On Monday, 20 November 2023 the Wentworth Falls Lake Precinct Stakeholder Advisory Group convened for their first meeting.

The Advisory group is made up of nine community representatives and a number of Council’s project team who are working to deliver this important program of upgrades.

One of the key roles of the Advisory Group is to provide another channel of communication between Council and the wider community about the lake precinct upgrade process. The group acts in an advisory capacity and represents a diversity of skills, experience and interests.

Members represent the broader community and can be contacted about the lake precinct upgrade for the purpose of raising questions to Council through the Stakeholder Advisory Group meetings.

Wentworth Falls Lake Precinct Stakeholder Advisory Group members:

• Clancy Matthews: clancy@ovomalley.com
• Patricia Cree: pcree@bigpond.net.au
• Paul Grimson: pgrimsonwf@gmail.com
• Paul Robilliard: probilliard@tpg.com.au
• Ricky Spencer: r.spencer@westernsydney.edu.au
• Robert John Walters: Robert.john.walters@gmail.com
• Robin Shreeve: shreeverobin@yahoo.com.au
• Steve Hart: stevehart12@bigpond.com
• Susan Spooner: sue@spoonerwright.net

The next Advisory Group meeting will occur in the new year and a date will be communicated in advance.

Closed: Expression of Interest – Wentworth Falls Lake Precinct Stakeholder Advisory Group

27 October 2023

Thank you to everyone who submitted an Expression of Interest (EOI) to join the Wentworth Falls Lake Precinct Stakeholder Advisory Group. EOI's have now closed.

We have received a very strong response.

Each EOI will now be reviewed and once the Stakeholder Advisory Group membership is finalised, those invited to join will be contacted. This will occur by 13 November 2023.

EOI shave now closed.

Council is calling for community Expressions of Interest to join an Advisory Group for the Wentworth Falls Lake Precinct upgrade works.

The Wentworth Falls Lake Precinct Stakeholder Advisory Group will provide feedback to Council on the planning of the Wentworth Falls Lake Precinct upgrade project. It will provide a forum for discussion among community representatives and BMCC and help to develop a shared understanding of key project considerations.

Community members will be selected from among those who nominate during the Expression of Interest process, seeking a diversity of interests as follows:

Accessibility

• Bushcare and environmental matters
• Blue Mountains residents
• Existing user groups of the precinct
• Potential user groups of the precinct
• Role of District Park recreational facilities in the Blue Mountains.

Please review the Terms of Reference for further details.

To express your interest in joining the Advisory Group, please complete the submission form (also available in the tab below) by Friday, 27 October 2023.

19 February 2024

Construction on the first stage of upgrades at Wentworth Falls Lake Precinct has now commenced, providing key accessibility improvements for the community.

Stage 1 includes:

• Construction of a new accessible walkway and viewing platform will run along the eastern edge of Wentworth Falls Lake.
• Formalising the carpark on Waratah Road.

Impact on community access

Access along the eastern edge of the lake will be restricted throughout the project.

Stage 1 construction areas include:

• There will be no community access to much of the east side of the lake. Initially, there will be no access to the spillway bridge and walking tracks to Waratah Road, including paths from Bellevue Rd, Apanie Ln/Lake St. However, during the first stage of construction, visitors will still be able to walk along the dam wall up to the closed spillway. When work on the dam and spillway commences, the dam wall walk will also need to close.
• The boat ramp area will be inaccessible, as it is a designated site compound and construction material will be transported across the water.
• The Waratah Road carpark will be inaccessible as this will also serve as a construction compound, before work is done to seal the area, providing four parking spaces (including one accessible space) and link it to the accessible walking path.

These areas will also need to remain closed for work to take place on the dam and spillway, which is anticipated to commence in mid to late 2024.

As works progress, areas may be progressively reopened to the community.

Further information about the upgrades is available in the information sheets below or in the document library to the right of the page.

A map showing the Stage 1 work area is available here.

Read the media release about the start of construction here.

July 2023

Below is a current update on the progress of the major parts of the lake upgrade project. This will be kept updated as work to enhance the lake precinct continues to advance.

• Dam and spillway: A detailed Review of Environmental Factors (REF) is underway and will be finalised in the coming weeks.
• Accessible walkway and viewing platform: A closed tender process is currently being conducted.
• Loop walk: Feasibility stage, with route planning and investigation underway.
  
  

More information is available the News Feed below and a series of Frequently Asked Questions can be found on the right of this page.

The next stage of the upgrade project at Wentworth Falls Lake focuses on the design of an accessible bridge that will connect to a walkway and dual viewing platform on the north side of the lake. The design follows the same footprint as the current walkway and platform.

See a large artist's impression of the new accessible walkway on the north side of the lake.

This project is part of the Wentworth Falls Lake Masterplan and Plan of Management, adopted in 2021 after extensive consultation with the community.

Our survey for this current round of community consultation closed in March 2022. Thank you to all who provided feedback!

Read Council's media release.

Download the Community Consultation Report.

The upgrade follows the construction of a brand new play space at the lake foreshore in 2021 and will be accompanied by improved pedestrian access from Blaxland Road to the lake in 2022 (see more on this project here).

We are taking community feedback on the design of the new accessible walkway and bridge that will be built at Wentworth Falls Lake, and extending the online survey until Monday 7 March.

Join us at an on-site event:

• Date: Thursday 24 February, 2022
• Time: 5-7pm
• Where: Wentworth Falls Lake

The next stage of the Wentworth Falls Lake Park upgrade is about to begin.

The focus of this upgrade is the construction of a fully accessible bridge, extending across the top of the spillway to a walkway on the north side of the lake, and featuring a dual level viewing platform.

The bridge and accessible pathway, that will be around 2 metres wide and span about 56 metres, will deliver an impressive and enhanced viewing experience of the lake for locals and visitors.

Let us know what you think of the designs via the mini survey below, by 18 February.

The new bridge will make it possible for the whole community to access one of the best vantage points from which to enjoy views over the lake.

The upgrade follows the construction of a brand new play space at the lake foreshore in 2021 and will be accompanied by improved pedestrian access from Blaxland Road to the lake in 2022 (see more on this project here).

The bridge is part of the Wentworth Falls Masterplan and Plans of Management, adopted in 2021 after extensive consultation with the community.

District Parks are high quality parks that cater to the needs of the broader community and visitors, offering a wide variety of activities and settings. There are four district parks in the Blue Mountains: Glenbrook Park, Butttenshaw Park, Blackheath Soldiers Memorial Park, and Wentworth Falls Lake Park. All have received, or will receive, a major upgrade as part of the Western Parkland City Liveability Program.

Take our survey by 18 February 2022