Work to improve the accessibility of Gordon Falls Reserve, Leura, is anticipated to get underway in early September with preparations made on-site for the first stage of the upgrade – the construction of a new amenities building.
Replacing the current amenities at the reserve, the new building will include two accessible cubicles (one with a baby change table), two ambulant cubicles and two standard cubicles.
The building features a well-ventilated design with views through to the bush beyond.
Once the amenities building is completed, the next stage of the upgrade will take place providing improvements to the carpark, footpaths and landscaping, including the planting of local native trees, shrubs and groundcovers grown from locally sourced seed.
The first part of the work at the reserve will be the removal of a limited number of plants including some invasive, dead and structurally unsound trees in the vicinity of the new building. This work will not have a large impact on visitors’ use of the reserve.
The amenities building construction will then follow in early October and is anticipated to be completed in the second quarter of 2024.
During construction, access to walking tracks from Gordon Falls and the reserve itself will remain open whenever possible. Temporary toilets will also be provided in the reserve for the duration of the period that the permanent toilets are not in use.
Blue Mountains Mayor, Mark Greenhill, said: “The upgrades to Gordon Falls Reserve reflect Council’s commitment to making natural spaces across the Blue Mountains more accessible where possible, so members of our community can more readily enjoy them.
“Gordon Falls is a popular place for residents of Leura and surrounding villages and also has the potential to have a key role in the visitor experience of the Blue Mountains.
“The upgrades are the result of close consultation with the community and seek to preserve what we love about Gordon Falls while making accessibility enhancements that improve how the area can be experienced.
“The design of the new amenities building balances a few different priorities. It’s accessible, sympathetic to the landscape, plus it’s a much safer building to use with passive surveillance principles having guided the design.
“We want to ensure that Gordon Falls Reserve is a place that offers nature-based recreational experiences to everyone; meets the current and future needs of residents and visitors; and is accessible, safe, and compliant with current standards.”
When the amenities building is first constructed, it may appear to be raised above the current level of the northern part of the carpark. This is because the next part of the upgrade work will involve adjustments to the northern carpark area, to provide a flatter, more accessible grade.
When all the upgrade work is completed, the levels will match and provide more accessible access to the reserve.
Before work commences on the second stage of the upgrades, updated plans showing what will occur will be provided to the community.
The works at Gordon Falls Reserve are the result of a Precinct Planning process with the community that commenced in August 2022. The Gordon Falls Precinct Plan was then adopted by Council at the February 2023 meeting and guides the design of the upgrade plans.
Gordon Falls Reserve is the mid-point of the Grand Cliff Top Walk, which weaves along the escarpment from Wentworth Falls to Katoomba, showcasing some of the most majestic mountain scenery in Australia. This upgrade work is being coordinated to create a better accessible link into this iconic walking experience.
Work on the nearby Prince Henry Cliff Walk at Leura is ongoing, with one new bridge over a significant landslip installed and a second bridge in design, and track work between Tarpian Rock Track and Olympian Rock in progress.
For more information about the Gordon Falls Reserve upgrades and to subscribe for project updates, please visit: yoursay.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/gordon-falls-mp
The Gordon Falls Reserve upgrades are funded by the NSW Government’s Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund and WestInvest.
Pictured: Artist’s impression of the new amenities building at Gordon Falls Reserve.
