The new water play feature, with the iconic red rocket in the background. (Hamish Dunlop)
Story by Hamish Dunlop
Blackheath Soldiers Memorial Park has had a fabulous upgrade with a new water play feature, landscaping and improvements to the duck & turtle pond. Take a tour here.
Key Points:
The upgraded pond and play areas at Blackheath Soldiers Memorial Park have been opened.
The new water play feature is the highlight for children and carers alike.
The turtles and ducks have returned to the pond!
It’s the grand opening of the upgraded playground and duck pond at Blackheath Soldiers Memorial Park. The pipe-based play equipment glistens with newly applied paint, but it’s the waterplay feature that enthrals everyone. Through bark and fern plantings, a sandstone water race winds its way down the slope. The duck pond has been reinvigorated too. There is an island for ducks and turtles and new native plantings lead down to the water’s edge.
Water play that honours place
The park was originally a swamp. Over the years, springs have surfaced and the area has been prone to flooding. During La Nina, this was especially so. One of the triumphs of the upgrade is the celebration of this water. The Blackheath Streetscape Group championed the idea of using the water to create a water play feature.
Everyone agrees the result is spectacular. The water is collected using buried infiltration pipes and feeds into the snaking water race that children can play in. There are gates that can be opened and closed to allow water to flow or build up. When it’s finally released, water can gush down the shallow sandstone channel to the delight of all. There are also water sprayers that can be activated by pushing buttons.
Young Blackheathen Fergus Jackson was so inspired by the new park upgrades he created this video:
Park Upgrade by Fergus Jackson
Wentworth Falls local Eliza Crespis says, “We’ve always loved the park, but we love it even more now.” She thinks the new water play feature is fantastic and appreciates the new facilities. “Using the natural water is such a lovely idea and it’s great to have the new bathrooms close by.”
Eliza has also observed how the water play feature supports children collaborating and negotiating. “The kids are endlessly entertained, but they’re also working together to block and open the water gates at the different stages.” Eliza’s partner says ‘the rocket park’ has taken on new meaning. “Families identify the park with the rocket,” he says, “but for us, it’s now the rocket ship water park.”
The red rocket and pipe-based play
Looking up the slope at the water play feature with new toilet block and iconic red rocket.(Hamish Dunlop)
One of the key features of the playground is the iconic red rocket. It’s one of the pipe-based play features in the park. The original had to be removed for safety reasons, but a community campaign supported by Blackheath Rotary led to the return of a new one in 2016.
The other pipe-based equipment was built by Blackheath engineer Dick West.
“Each year after the rocket’s arrival, Dick made a new piece of play equipment,” says Jenny Kelly, a member of the Friends of the Blackheath Pool and Soldiers Memorial Park. “These were paraded at the Rhododendron Festival before being installed in the playground.”
Dick West’s pipe-based play equipment. (Hamish Dunlop)
Jenny says the upgrades to the play area and the duck pond “are absolutely lovely”. It’s a result everyone is happy with.
Local State Member, elected Council and staff, and community members, with rocket cake in front of the upgraded pond (from left): Kirrilly Twomey, Paul Vale, Cr Sarah Redshaw, Jenny Kelly, Blue Mountains member Trish Doyle, Mayor Cr. Mark Greenhill, Lucas Warren (Trainee), Elizabeth Dudley-Bestow, Jamie Bell, Eva Johnstone, Joseph Southers, Mina Howard, David Pinches, Patrick McGuinness, Lee McSorley, Ryan Smith, Daniel Long, Brian Jones. (Hamish Dunlop)
A Triumph of Government and Community Collaboration
Mayor Cr. Mark Greenhill, Cr Sarah Redshaw and member for the Blue Mountains Trish Doyle gathered with community members and Council staff in early December to open the upgrades to Blackheath Soldiers Memorial Park.
The successful reimagining of the play area and pond could not have been achieved without the extraordinary collaboration between Blue Mountains City Council and the Blackheath community.
The newly-landscaped pond is home to ducks and turtles. (Hamish Dunlop)
Early planning
In 2018, Elizabeth Dudley-Bestow, Principal Landscape Architect at the Council, started working on a Plan of Management for the park. She engaged with the community by contacting organisations such as the Blackheath Alliance and the Friends of the Blackheath Pool and Soldiers Memorial Park. There were meetings in the Blackheath Hall and two rounds of consultation before the Plan of Management was adopted by Council.
“It was critical that the community had a sense of ownership of the project,” Elizabeth says. “The consultation process enabled people to articulate what is special about the park. That included its social value and the physical heritage such as the pipe-based play equipment and the 100-year-old rhododendrons. We heard wonderful stories about children playing on the red rocket and people quietly resting in the shade of a tree while their children paddled in the pond.”
Community passion for pool and park
Blackheath Soldiers Memorial Park Pool – the perfect place to cool off this summer.(Hamish Dunlop)
Jenny tells me one of the reasons the community is so passionate about the pool and park is because of the long community involvement over decades. “The pool was originally a water source where bullock trains crossing the Blue Mountains could stop to refresh. After that it was dammed and provided water for the steam trains. People swam in the dam, but at some stage the Blackheath Council decided it should become a swimming pool.”
“Locals would shut up their shops on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons and donate their time,” Jenny continues. “The dam was drained and a steam roller was used to smooth the bottom. Because it was made by volunteers, the entry was free. In 1932, the state government paid for the change rooms that remain today. It didn’t matter whether you were rich or poor. Every kid could go and swim and that’s where summers were spent.”
The Master Plan and grant funding
In 2016, a master plan process commenced to develop a detailed park plan. The community was again invited to get involved. Individuals and groups including the Friends of the Blackheath Pool and Soldiers Memorial Park, the Blackheath Streetscape Group, Pope’s Glen Bushcare Group and Blue Mountains Rhododendron Society were active contributors. Notable community participants included Jenny and Wayne Kelly, Adele Colman, Eva Johnstone, Paul Vale and Alan Lane among others.
Mina Howard (previous Governor of the Rotary District that encompasses the Blue Mountains), Jenny Kelly and Eva Johnstone. (Hamish Dunlop)
The park and pool were funded by two major grants secured by Blue Mountains City Council. Initially a City Deal grant was acquired and then a two-million-dollar Legacy Project grant. Jenny says it was marvellous the Council was able to secure the grants. “Without it, the project wouldn’t have come to fruition. It was a great credit to Council staff including Daniel Long (Manager Recreation, Aquatic & Cemeteries), Elizabeth Dudley-Bestow (Principal Landscape Architect) and Kirrilly Twomey (Director Cultural & Community Services).”
After securing the Legacy Grant funding, Elizabeth set up two sounding board groups. There were eight members from the community, Elizabeth and a different specialist designer on the park and pond groups. David Knight from Arcadis consulted on the pond and celebrated Australian park designer Fiona Robbe on the park/playground. David also assisted with the park design because of its boggy nature.
The ANZAC gates that recognise history
The ANZAC gates with the rocket in the background. (Hamish Dunlop)
During the development of the park and pond upgrade, the Blackheath Streetscape Group suggested it would be great to have gates that formally recognise the history of the park. Blackheath Soldiers Memorial Park was established after WWI. The community-driven gates project secured a Veteran Affairs grant and members of the local community also contributed. Jenny’s son Owen Kelly and his business partner Sam Trembath designed the gates and the Council facilitated their installation and undertook the landscaping.
The pond and planting days
As part of the project, Elizabeth suggested two planting days. Jenny says community-led park care has been taking place since 2013. “These days are always done collaboratively. The Friends of the Blackheath Pool and Soldiers Memorial Park rally people to volunteer and the Council provides gardeners and crews too. Jenny says that Elizabeth funded a Rotary sausage sizzle to feed volunteers at the most recent day. “The planting days helps create community and a sense of ownership and belonging.”
The pond planting day (Photo: Jen Hardwick)
Popes Glen is adjacent to the park and the Popes Glen Bushcare Group was keen that nothing got planted that would end up causing trouble downstream. Bush carers Paul Vale and Alan Lane were part of the pond sounding board. The solution was planting natives that are endemic to the area. The turtles were looked after too. An expert removed them while the pond was drained before the upgrade. They are now back and have an island where people can see them out of the water.
Finale
Elizabeth says one of the joys of landscape architecture is that it’s about pulling threads together. “There is a lot to know about a park. Not just its soils and the waters, but its cultural history and social value. One of the reasons community consultation works so well is because it allows these threads to be articulated.”
Jenny’s thoughts about the process are similar. “It’s been a great collaboration with a marvellous outcome. Some really good relationships have been established. It’s taken time for trust to develop, but working together has meant we all have a wonderful park to enjoy.”
This story has been produced as part of a Bioregional Collaboration for Planetary Health and is supported by the Disaster Risk Reduction Fund (DRRF). The DRRF is jointly funded by the Australian and New South Wales governments.
Plate to Planet: Blue Mountains Food Security Fair is just days away - happening this Saturday at the Planetary Health Centre in Katoomba.
We are excited to be joined by local, state-wide and national organisations as this weekend`s event. You`ll be able to learn from and interact with our vendors, as well as taste and purchase locally made goods.
Entry to the Fair and Markets is free but please do register in advance via the website: https://events.humanitix.com/blue-mountains-2026-food-security-fair
2026 Stallholders and Vendors: - Alchemy Farms - BMCC Bushcare team - BMCC Waste Team - Chey`s Flowers - Cool Seats / Sustainable House - Diego Bonetto - Eats Really Yummy - Fidelity Coffee - Fifi`s Bees - Good Fat Pastry - Kokomo Island Cafe - Permaculture Hawkesbury Valley - Permaculture Matters - Plant Inspired and Associates - Theory Produce - Waste Free Produce - Wildplant Rescue - WIRES - You Are The Plant...
We are just one week away from Plate to Planet: Blue Mountains Food Security Fair, taking place next Saturday, 10th October, at the Planetary Health Centre.
Whether you are interested in understanding the global food system, at-home food security, community resilience or local produce, we have talks, workshops, activities and stallholders for all.
View the full program and register your place via the website: https://events.humanitix.com/blue-mountains-2026-food-security-fair
We have limited spots remaining so don`t miss out!...
We are counting down the days to Plate to Planet: Blue Mountains Food Security Fair. Join us, and key speakers, educators and organisations at the Planetary Health Centre in Katoomba to explore one of the most important challenges of our time: how we grow, share and sustain food in a way that supports the health of ourselves, our communities and our planet. View the full program and reserve your space via this link: https://events.humanitix.com/blue-mountains-2026-food-security-fair...
Thank you to our food vendors catering Plate to Planet: Blue Mountains Food Security Fair 2026! 🌱
🍚 @eatsreallyyummy Eats Really Yummy is a food truck serving delicious Taiwanese-inspired fusion cuisine, bringing bold flavours and creative dishes to the Blue Mountains. Join them at Plate to Planet for a taste of their delicious street-food-style offerings while celebrating the diversity, creativity and community of our local food scene.
🌴 @kokomoislandcafe Based in Wentworth Falls, Kokomo Island Café is a female-owned food trailer bringing vibrant Caribbean flavours to the Blue Mountains. For the Blue Mountains Food Security Fair 2026, we’ll be serving a delicious menu of vegetarian snacks and dishes made with locally grown Blue Mountains produce, celebrating the region’s incredible growers. Join us for nourishing food, bold flavours, and a day dedicated to community, sustainability, and the remarkable food being grown in our region.
☕ @fidelity.coffee Fidelity curates a rotating selection of exceptional coffees from leading Australian and international roasters. From rare single-origins to innovative processing methods, every coffee is chosen for its unique character and outstanding quality.
🥐 @goodfatpastry Good Fat Pastry creates scrumptious plant based pastries for your enjoyment and donates proceeds to people in need. Do yourself good by eating tasty things. Do others good by supporting their needs.
To view the full program and register your place, visit the event website: https://events.humanitix.com/blue-mountains-2026-food-security-fair...
We’re excited to launch the 2026 program and website for PREPARE: Disaster Risk Awareness Expo, hosted by Blue Mountains Planetary Health.
Key event information: 📆Date: Saturday 7 November 🕙Time: 10am - 4pm 🌏Venue: Blue Mountains Planetary Health Centre, Katoomba 🪙Cost: Entry free, some sessions ticketed. Registration essential.
Visit the website and register your place here: https://events.humanitix.com/host/blue-mountains-planetary-health
Following the success of last year’s event, this year’s Expo will once again bring together the community, emergency services, researchers, local organisations and experts to share practical knowledge and explore how we can better prepare for disasters and build safer, healthier and more resilient communities.
The 2026 program includes a range of interactive workshops, talks and activities, including:
- iFire / UNSW - iFire Immersive Bushfire Simulation - Australian Red Cross - EmergencyRedi workshop - Resilient Blue Mountains - Climate Fresk - Blue Mountains City Council - Hidden hazards before a disaster - WIRES - caring for wildlife during disasters - Blue Mountains City Council - response and recovery after the 2019 / 2020 Black Summer Bushfires
Key emergency services – NSW Rural Fire Service, NSW State Emergency Service and Fire and Rescue will also be on site with vehicles, displays and activities.
Rapid Relief Australia will be providing free food and refreshments throughout the day.
Visit the website and register your place here: https://events.humanitix.com/host/blue-mountains-planetary-health
We’re looking forward to seeing you and your families there!...
Looking for a fun, educational and sustainable day out these school holidays?
Come along to Plate to Planet: Blue Mountains Food Security Fair in Katoomba on Saturday 10 October, with a line-up of free talks, activities and entertainment for all ages!
🌿 The Importance of Bioregions in Uncertain Times Join permaculture pioneer Rowe Morrow to explore how our land, water, food, energy and communities are connected - and how we can build a more resilient Blue Mountains.
🌱 Discover Old Man Saltbush Get up close to this remarkable native plant with Anne Elliot, and discover its potential as part of a more diverse and resilient food system.
🪱 Have a go at worm farming Learn how easy it can be to turn food scraps into valuable nutrients for your garden - with a hands-on worm farm activity from BMCC.
🎶 Enjoy live music Take a break, relax and soak up the atmosphere while enjoying live music by Olivia Dustmann throughout the day.
🎨 Kids` Corner - all day! Rock painting, crafts and story time, with plenty of fruit and veggie-inspired fun for younger visitors.
Explore local stalls, food, gardens, wildlife, sustainability and practical ideas for creating a more resilient food future.
Entry to the Fair and markets is free, with a range of free and paid sessions and workshops available throughout the day. Some sessions have limited capacity, so registration is recommended.
View the full program and register your place here: https://events.humanitix.com/blue-mountains-2026-food-security-fair
📅 Saturday 10 October | 9am–4pm 📍 Blue Mountains Planetary Health Centre, Katoomba...
Join Andris Heks, Yogic Psychotherapist, winner Best Actor, Blue Mountains, for his workshop to laugh as you never laughed before, as part of a movement to globalise people-bonding cheerfulness through kookaburra laughter contagion as an antidote to distressing world divisiveness.
Purchase your ticket here: https://events.humanitix.com/kookaburra-laughter-workshop
View the trailer and the GoFundMe page here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/globalise-unconditional-love-through-kookaburra-laughter
Key event information: - When? 10:15AM - 2:30PM, Sunday 4 October 2026 (1st day of Daylight Saving - 1 hour forward) - Where? Blue Mountains Planetary Health Centre, 33-39 Acacia St, Katoomba, NSW, 2780 - Fee? $60 or what you can afford - Note: please bring your own lunch
What to expect: - Learn how to stay cheerful for good - Learning the funny, human emulated, communal kookaburra laughter and meditation - How communal kookaburra laughter promotes bonding even amongst strangers - The awesome native treasure of the laughing kookaburra phenomenon - Why Kookaburra Yoga is the ‘most excellent of Yogas` - How communal kookaburra laughter contagion boosts the subtle and gross national product - How you could contribute to the kookaburra laughter contagion
This event is supported by Blue Mountains Planetary Health.
Purchase your ticket here: https://events.humanitix.com/kookaburra-laughter-workshop...
Come along to the Planetary Health Centre this Saturday for the next Skill Share Saturdays event!
This weekend`s agenda:
8:30AM - 10AM | Learn how to use your sewing machine class with Sherlie McMillan
8:30AM | Planetary Health Cafe open, serving Good Fat Pastry and Whisk and Pin
9AM - 10AM | Tai Chi and Qigong class with Virginia Field
10AM - 12PM | Learn how to grow WITH the Upper Blue Mountain permaculture workshop with Leni from Alchemy Farms
10AM - 3PM | Fashion Upcycling Workshop with Sherlie McMillan
10:30AM - 12PM | Learn to make focaccia from scratch with Laura Zucchetti (no experience needed)
1:30PM - 4:30PM | Planetary Health Bushcare with Karen Hising
For more information and to purchase a ticket, please visit the website: https://events.humanitix.com/skill-share-saturdays-at-the-planetary-health-centre...
Plate to Planet: Blue Mountains Food Security Fair 2026
📣HEADLINE SPEAKER📣
Our headline speaker is Julian Cribb AM – a renowned Australian science writer, journalist and author who has spent more than 50 years communicating science, agriculture, climate and global sustainability issues. He is the author of several influential books, including The Coming Famine (2010), Food or War (2019) and How to Fix a Broken Planet (2023), which explore the future of food systems, planetary health and humanity`s long-term survival.
He is widely recognised as one of Australia`s leading voices on global food security and sustainable development.
To register for his talk, and view the rest of the program, visit the website: https://events.humanitix.com/blue-mountains-2026-food-security-fair...
At our next Skill Share Saturdays event on Saturday 5th September, join Laura Zucchetti at 10:30am to learn how to make focaccia from scratch!
Come along for a 90 min class where you`ll mix, rest and stretch your own focaccia dough from start to finish, guided every step of the way. You’ll take home your dough to bake on the day in your own oven.
Sign up to this session, and view the other offerings on the day via this link: https://events.humanitix.com/skill-share-saturdays-at-the-planetary-health-centre...
Plate to Planet: Blue Mountains Food Security Fair 2026
We are pleased to announce that the program and registration for Plate to Planet: Blue Mountains Food Security Fair 2026 is now live!
Follow this link to view the program and register your place: https://events.humanitix.com/blue-mountains-2026-food-security-fair
Key information:
When? Saturday 10 October, 9AM - 4PM
Where? Blue Mountains Planetary Health Centre, Katoomba
Who is it for? Families, gardeners, enthusiasts, community groups and businesses, anyone looking to learn about how to be more resilient through local and sustainable food systems.
What to expect? Talks, workshops, demos, market stalls, family activities, music, food
Is there a cost? Entry to the Fair and Markets is free. Talks and workshops are ticketed (both free and paid) and have limited capacity, so please register in advance.
Program highlights:
🌏Headline talk: The age of renewable Food – Julian Cribb AM 🎋Wild edibles foraging workshops – Diego Bonetto, Eat More Weeds 🏞️The importance of bioregions in uncertain times – Rowe Morrow, Permaculture Matters 🥒Home canning and food preservation workshop – Kirsty Berté, Permaculture Hawkesbury Valley 🏡Designing your own Permaculture Property – Leni Nyssen, Alchemy Farms 🍃Utilising what’s in front of you – Uncle Lex, The Ganya Shed 🪱How to worm farm - BMCC 🎸Live music by Olivia Dustmann 🌾Community crop and seed swap
Tickets are limited so please register your place now: https://events.humanitix.com/blue-mountains-2026-food-security-fair
We are also seeking stallholders for the event. If you are a grower, retailer, community organisation or business that would like to get involved, please reach out to [email protected]!...
Hamish Dunlop is a writer, visual artist and environmentalist. During his career he has worked in communications, as an academic at UNSW and ACU and more recently in the conservation space. He is currently completing a Diploma in Conservation and Ecosystems Management. He lives on the bush in Medlow Bath and is a passionate bush walker, gardener and cold-water enthusiast.
The concept of planetary health is rapidly gaining attention globally, as the world increasingly confronts the interconnected challenges of environmental degradation, climate change, and public health crises. But what does the term 'planetary health' really mean, and why does it matter?
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