Blue Mountains City Council’s $5 million upgrades and enhancements project at the picturesque Leura Cascades is progressing well, with work now underway on the upper precinct’s new carpark and civil works.
This follows significant work that has already been delivered within the precinct, with a new amenities building completed but yet to open, and upgrades made throughout the lower cascades, including ongoing walking track upgrades and a new footbridge across Leura Falls Creek.
Once completed and open, the civil works in the upper cascades will integrate the new amenities building with the surrounding area.
Mayor, Mark Greenhill said, “Operating within our natural areas where access is often difficult, to deliver infrastructure upgrades like this, is a delicate process and one that takes time. The upgrades to the Cascades are progressing according to plan, and are expected to be complete in early 2026 (weather permitting).
“The new footbridge that’s in place and now open to the community is another example of what we aim to achieve across all renewed parts of our walking track network – providing more resilient infrastructure that’s carefully considered and designed to better withstand severe weather events.
“We’ve also been very conscious of staging works in a way that maintains as much access to the walking tracks as possible, while the upgrade work is underway.”
The full scope of the Leura Cascades Recreation Precinct upgrade includes:
- A new amenities building, with four cubicles which includes one accessible cubicle;
- An accessible picnic shelter with picnic setting and a double electric BBQ;
- Paths, ramps, steps and signage to provide access from two new accessible parking spaces;
- A new carpark to consolidate parking from around the precinct and to support access to the improved facilities. Approximately 30 spaces;
- Lighting and electrical design for the Cascades precinct, including the reinstatement of feature lighting of Chelmsford Bridge and other landscape features;
- Walking track upgrade with new handrails, from the trackhead to the NPWS Boundary, including a new footbridge across the creek;
- Stormwater management and environmental protection works including the planting of 15 new trees and revegetation using native plants.
The upgrades will better link the Leura Cascades Recreation Precinct with the Grand Cliff Top Walk, a scenic 19-kilometre two-day walk jointly managed by Council and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Chelmsford Bridge and the Leura Cascades Recreational Reserve were recently listed on the State Heritage Register, acknowledging their historical significance and providing ongoing protections for their cultural and landscape heritage values.
The project is funded by the NSW Government’s Western Sydney Infrastructure Grant Program.
For more information and to keep up to date with progress, visit: https://www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/leura-cascades.
