Wentworth Falls Lake Precinct upgrades

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The second stage of the Wentworth Falls Lake Precinct upgrade is now underway

17 October 2024

Stage 2 of the essential dam and spillway safety works at Wentworth Falls Lake to ensure structural integrity of the dam wall will require a small water drawdown of 600mm. This 600mm drawdown, which is substantially less than the 2.5m drawdown originally proposed by NSW Public Works, is similar to past natural evaporation events that have occurred over the years.

Council extensively investigated options to avoid any reduction of the lake water level. Following expert advice and in consultation with an independent dam specialist, this water drawdown is required to safely complete the work.

An extensive negotiation process has been undertaken with a selection of experienced contractors to arrive at a final construction method that is based on public safety, minimal impact on the environment, financial responsibility and community expectations.

Stage 2 includes the construction of:
• Necessary dam upgrades for community safety.
• Spillway upgrades to improve control of water levels for fire protection and community resilience.
• An upgraded boat ramp and emergency vehicle access road.

Community access to parts of the lake will continue to be restricted during the upgrade project, including:
• The boat ramp area.
• The path across the dam wall and spillway.
• The grassed incline on the back of the dam wall.

This complex package of work is scheduled to be complete mid-2025.

The dam, spillway and boat ramp improvements follow the recent completion of other important accessibility upgrades at the lake:
• A new accessible viewing platform and pedestrian walkway
• An accessible path along the eastern edge of the lake to Waratah Road
• A new carpark on Waratah Road
• Improvements to the shared path along Sinclair Crescent.

Read the media release about the completed upgrades.

Above: Water levels during a previous natural evaporation event indicative of a 600mm drawdown.

Above: Wentworth Falls Lake Stage 2 community access map.

Above: Indicative gabion replace - rip rap (rock beaching).

Above: Wentworth Falls Lake Drawdown Indicators

Wentworth Falls Lake – Viewing Platform and Pedestrian Walkway opening

2 October 2024

The new accessible viewing platform and pedestrian walkway on the eastern bank of Wentworth Falls Lake is now partially open to the community, providing serene views over the water and surrounding landscape.

The wide viewing platform and walkway replaces the old wooden structure on this side of the lake and gives visitors increased access to experience the lake environment.

From Waratah Road, visitors can now travel along an accessible path that winds along the eastern lake shore, through to the new viewing platform and pedestrian walkway. The walk currently ends at the construction area of the upcoming spillway and dam upgrades.

The opening of the viewing platform and pedestrian walkway is a major milestone for the lake precinct upgrade project and opens more of the lake to a broader range of people.

Significant features of the viewing platform include:

  • Increased protection of the lake edge, flora and fauna by raising the walkway from the lake edge.

  • Lowered handrails on the ‘top deck’ of the viewing platform that provide someone in a wheelchair with an unobstructed view over the lake.

  • A well-integrated, sympathetic design which balances form with function. This includes the use of Corten steel, that will weather and blend with the backdrop of the trees and sandstone cutting, over time.

  • The use of decking with a heel guard mesh.

  • Tactile bumps on handrails to aid navigation for people with impaired vision.

It has been built for the future and constructed from appropriate materials that will withstand future weather events.

Extensive community consultation took place in 2022 on the design of the viewing platform and walkway, resulting in a revised design with a reduced amount of Corten steel featured in the structure.

Over recent months work on a range of complementary accessibility upgrades around the lake have progressively opened for the community, including a new section of the shared path along Sinclair Crescent and a new carpark on Waratah Road.

What’s next:

On-site preparations for the spillway, dam wall and boat ramp upgrades are anticipated to start from Friday, 4 October 2024.

Highly experienced dam remediation contractor, Entracon, has been selected to deliver these important improvements.

The construction methods being used to remediate the spillway and dam wall will result in a small water drawdown of up to 600mm. The condition of the dam wall below the water will require ongoing assessment as work progresses. These works are currently scheduled to be completed in the first half of 2025.

Upgrades to precinct seating, shelters and BBQ facilities as well as the formalisation of a full a precinct walk are also still to come as part of the precinct upgrades.

Visitors are reminded to stay out of all construction areas while the precinct upgrades are underway.

Community Information Sessions

The Community Consultation Outcomes report is available here.

Thank you to everyone who came along to one of our community information sessions in November 2023.

The information and design materials that were presented and discussed at the events are available below:

The Wentworth Falls Lake Precinct upgrade.

Council has been working to carefully enhance the upgrade plans for Wentworth Falls Lake, in order to deliver an expanded package of works that best support the community’s vision for this iconic recreational precinct:

  • Dam upgrades: upgrade of the spillways, upstream dam wall and weir infrastructure to improve control of water levels for fire protection and community resilience. An upgraded boat ramp, landscaping and staging area for emergency vehicles will also be delivered.
  • Accessible walkway and viewing platform: a new pedestrian bridge and viewing platform, and improvements to how visitors access the northern edge of the lake to Waratah Road.
  • Precinct walk: a walk around the lake and a link to Waratah Road.
  • Carparks: new carparks on Sinclair Crescent and Waratah Road.
  • Plus upgraded precinct seating, shelters and BBQ facilities.

Council is now positioned to deliver the best outcome for the community through a broad package of upgrades that not only enhance how the lake and its surroundings can be experienced, but provide increased protections from future flood and fire events.

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

Stay informed with updates on this project - click ‘Subscribe’ in the Stay informed box to the right.

The second stage of the Wentworth Falls Lake Precinct upgrade is now underway

17 October 2024

Stage 2 of the essential dam and spillway safety works at Wentworth Falls Lake to ensure structural integrity of the dam wall will require a small water drawdown of 600mm. This 600mm drawdown, which is substantially less than the 2.5m drawdown originally proposed by NSW Public Works, is similar to past natural evaporation events that have occurred over the years.

Council extensively investigated options to avoid any reduction of the lake water level. Following expert advice and in consultation with an independent dam specialist, this water drawdown is required to safely complete the work.

An extensive negotiation process has been undertaken with a selection of experienced contractors to arrive at a final construction method that is based on public safety, minimal impact on the environment, financial responsibility and community expectations.

Stage 2 includes the construction of:
• Necessary dam upgrades for community safety.
• Spillway upgrades to improve control of water levels for fire protection and community resilience.
• An upgraded boat ramp and emergency vehicle access road.

Community access to parts of the lake will continue to be restricted during the upgrade project, including:
• The boat ramp area.
• The path across the dam wall and spillway.
• The grassed incline on the back of the dam wall.

This complex package of work is scheduled to be complete mid-2025.

The dam, spillway and boat ramp improvements follow the recent completion of other important accessibility upgrades at the lake:
• A new accessible viewing platform and pedestrian walkway
• An accessible path along the eastern edge of the lake to Waratah Road
• A new carpark on Waratah Road
• Improvements to the shared path along Sinclair Crescent.

Read the media release about the completed upgrades.

Above: Water levels during a previous natural evaporation event indicative of a 600mm drawdown.

Above: Wentworth Falls Lake Stage 2 community access map.

Above: Indicative gabion replace - rip rap (rock beaching).

Above: Wentworth Falls Lake Drawdown Indicators

Wentworth Falls Lake – Viewing Platform and Pedestrian Walkway opening

2 October 2024

The new accessible viewing platform and pedestrian walkway on the eastern bank of Wentworth Falls Lake is now partially open to the community, providing serene views over the water and surrounding landscape.

The wide viewing platform and walkway replaces the old wooden structure on this side of the lake and gives visitors increased access to experience the lake environment.

From Waratah Road, visitors can now travel along an accessible path that winds along the eastern lake shore, through to the new viewing platform and pedestrian walkway. The walk currently ends at the construction area of the upcoming spillway and dam upgrades.

The opening of the viewing platform and pedestrian walkway is a major milestone for the lake precinct upgrade project and opens more of the lake to a broader range of people.

Significant features of the viewing platform include:

  • Increased protection of the lake edge, flora and fauna by raising the walkway from the lake edge.

  • Lowered handrails on the ‘top deck’ of the viewing platform that provide someone in a wheelchair with an unobstructed view over the lake.

  • A well-integrated, sympathetic design which balances form with function. This includes the use of Corten steel, that will weather and blend with the backdrop of the trees and sandstone cutting, over time.

  • The use of decking with a heel guard mesh.

  • Tactile bumps on handrails to aid navigation for people with impaired vision.

It has been built for the future and constructed from appropriate materials that will withstand future weather events.

Extensive community consultation took place in 2022 on the design of the viewing platform and walkway, resulting in a revised design with a reduced amount of Corten steel featured in the structure.

Over recent months work on a range of complementary accessibility upgrades around the lake have progressively opened for the community, including a new section of the shared path along Sinclair Crescent and a new carpark on Waratah Road.

What’s next:

On-site preparations for the spillway, dam wall and boat ramp upgrades are anticipated to start from Friday, 4 October 2024.

Highly experienced dam remediation contractor, Entracon, has been selected to deliver these important improvements.

The construction methods being used to remediate the spillway and dam wall will result in a small water drawdown of up to 600mm. The condition of the dam wall below the water will require ongoing assessment as work progresses. These works are currently scheduled to be completed in the first half of 2025.

Upgrades to precinct seating, shelters and BBQ facilities as well as the formalisation of a full a precinct walk are also still to come as part of the precinct upgrades.

Visitors are reminded to stay out of all construction areas while the precinct upgrades are underway.

Community Information Sessions

The Community Consultation Outcomes report is available here.

Thank you to everyone who came along to one of our community information sessions in November 2023.

The information and design materials that were presented and discussed at the events are available below:

The Wentworth Falls Lake Precinct upgrade.

Council has been working to carefully enhance the upgrade plans for Wentworth Falls Lake, in order to deliver an expanded package of works that best support the community’s vision for this iconic recreational precinct:

  • Dam upgrades: upgrade of the spillways, upstream dam wall and weir infrastructure to improve control of water levels for fire protection and community resilience. An upgraded boat ramp, landscaping and staging area for emergency vehicles will also be delivered.
  • Accessible walkway and viewing platform: a new pedestrian bridge and viewing platform, and improvements to how visitors access the northern edge of the lake to Waratah Road.
  • Precinct walk: a walk around the lake and a link to Waratah Road.
  • Carparks: new carparks on Sinclair Crescent and Waratah Road.
  • Plus upgraded precinct seating, shelters and BBQ facilities.

Council is now positioned to deliver the best outcome for the community through a broad package of upgrades that not only enhance how the lake and its surroundings can be experienced, but provide increased protections from future flood and fire events.

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

Stay informed with updates on this project - click ‘Subscribe’ in the Stay informed box to the right.

  • Will there be an improvement to the playground?

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    Yes, while works on the playgrounds are not included in the City Deal Liveability grant, additional funding has been found through the ‘Everyone Can Play’ grant to replace the old equipment located near the new toilets.

    The pirate ship playground is still in good condition so it will be left as it currently is. We would like to know what type of replacement playground would be best for Wentworth Falls Lake.

  • Share your ideas as images

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    As we can’t meet with you on site to talk about what you and love, and your ideas for Wentworth Falls Lake Park, we’re asking you to let us know by sharing photos on Instagram. You can share photos showing something you love about Wentworth Falls Lake Park, or an idea you have for the future, or both! Make sure you use the right hashtags, so we can include your ideas and feedback

    • Sharing what you love? Use #ilovewentworthfallslake
    • Sharing an idea for the future? Use #wentworthfallslake and #myidea

  • Wentworth Falls Lake Dam

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    Council is undertaking a comprehensive review of the Wentworth Falls Lake Dam.

    It is a legislative requirement and also in line with the proposed improvements for the accessible walkway over the spillway.

    The dam wall will be closed to the public at various times over March and April while investigations are undertaken.


  • Wentworth Falls Lake Park: A district park

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    Council manages 105 parks and 56 formal playgrounds across the Blue Mountains.

    Not every park and playground is the same. We have different kinds of parks and playgrounds, which people use differently, and need different equipment and management.

    Wentworth Falls Lake Park is one of four district parks in the Blue Mountains. District parks are large and high quality parks that cater to the needs of the broader Blue Mountains community. They offer a wider variety of activities and settings and are often the most popular parks and playgrounds.

    In addition to the different types and levels of parks, Council provides a range of different play types across our playgrounds and parks, to ensure there is something to suit children’s diverse needs and ages.

    Read more about our parks and playgrounds.

  • Are the proposals for the City Deal upgrade final?

    Share Are the proposals for the City Deal upgrade final? on Facebook Share Are the proposals for the City Deal upgrade final? on Twitter Share Are the proposals for the City Deal upgrade final? on Linkedin Email Are the proposals for the City Deal upgrade final? link

    No. These improvements are important and we want your help to shape the designs. Consulting with you will also help us identify other priorities for the Plan of Management, and all future works will reflect those priorities.

  • Is Council planning to drastically change Wentworth Falls Lake Park?

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    No. The City Deal upgrade, and the Plan of Management will enhance the space and the way the community uses it making it easier to get around and protect the environmental values that make it so special. Our goal is to find out what you love about Wentworth Falls Lake Park, and improve the experience for all.

Page last updated: 17 Oct 2024, 04:33 PM