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 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]!...
Thank you to everyone that joined us at the Planetary Health Centre on Saturday for the first of our Skill Share Saturdays program!
The Centre was a hive of activity all day, and we heard from @alchemyfarms_permaculture, the @ediblegardentrailbluemountains team and Andy Mann. Also thanks to Sherlie McMillan from Greater Blue Mountains Rotary for teaching the Fashion Upcycling workshop, and Virginia Field for the Tai Chi and Qigong class.
The next event will be held on Saturday 1st August - you can register your place here: https://events.humanitix.com/skill-share-saturdays-at-the-planetary-health-centre
🖐Get involved!
Do you have a skill, program or interest that promotes planetary health that you`d be willing to share with members of the local community? We are looking for more workshop and session hosts for our future events.
Join us at the Planetary Health Centre in Katoomba on the first Saturday of every month for Skill Share Saturdays!
Our July program includes: - What to grow in a Blue Mountains climate - Eating for Earth - Tai Chi and Qigong - Fashion upcycling and clothing reuse workshop - How to get involved with the Edible Garden Trail
You are also welcome to bring any surplus seeds or produce for our Crop Swap, or wind down in the Planetary Health Cafe (until 2pm).
If you have a skill that you want to share, or any questions or queries, please contact [email protected]
Visit the website to view the full program of events and register your place.
Join Andy Mann, a 23 year old Lawson local, for their Eating for Earth session 🌏
Eating for Earth is a judgement-free plant-based educational workshop that all types of eaters are encouraged to attend. There will be a presentation about the environmental impact of diets, a discussion section, and best of all, food! The food will be fully plant-based.
Andy wants to help inform our passionate community about how we can better reduce dietary environmental impact.
The session will run from 11AM - 12PM on Saturday 4th July.
Other sessions include: - What to grow in a Blue Mountains Climate - Fashion Upcycling - Tai Chi and Qigong - Bushcare on the Planetary Health site - How to get involved with the Edible Garden Trail
To register your place, visit our website: https://events.humanitix.com/skill-share-saturdays-at-the-planetary-health-centre...
We’re excited to announce the second Blue Mountains Food Security Fair, taking place in Katoomba in October 2026.
This annual event will bring together growers, thinkers, makers, and community members to explore one of the most important challenges of our time: how we grow, share, and sustain food in a changing world.
Across the weekend, we’ll be exploring themes including: - Healthy soil and regenerative systems - Food and human health - Plant-based food futures - Home and community food resilience - Water-sensitive and climate-adapted growing - Indigenous food knowledge and systems - School food systems - Australia’s food procurement - Global food security challenges Expect a dynamic program of inspiring speakers, practical workshops, and hands-on experiences designed to leave you informed, empowered, and connected.
Key information Date: Weekend of 10th October 2026 Location: Blue Mountains Planetary Health Centre, Katoomba, NSW We’ll be announcing speakers and program details soon.
We are also inviting expressions of interest from individuals and organisations who would like to contribute to the program, host workshops, run a stall or partner with us.
Do you struggle making the most of your veggie garden all year round?
Join Leni from @alchemyfarms_permaculture on Saturday 4th July for her Permaculture Workshop: Learn how to grow WITH the Upper Blue Mountains seasons, rather than battling against them.
During the two-hour session, you`ll cover crop selection for different seasons, what to grow from seeds vs seedlings, frost and wind protection, and nurturing your soil with a seasonal cycle.
Register for this and other sessions as part of our Skill Share Saturdays program via this link: https://events.humanitix.com/skill-share-saturdays-at-the-planetary-health-centre...
From Saturday 4 July, we are opening up the Planetary Health Centre for our monthly Skill Share Saturdays program: https://events.humanitix.com/skill-share-saturdays-at-the-planetary-health-centre
Throughout each day, you can expect to find a variety of sessions focused on restoring the health of the planet, in terms of the environment, community and economy.
Sessions at the first event include:
- What to grow in a Blue Mountains climate - Plant-based eating - Tai Chi and Qigong - Fashion Upcycling and clothing reuse workshop
You are also welcome to bring any surplus seeds or produce for our Crop Swap, or wind down in the Planetary Health Cafe (until 2pm).
Visit the website to view the full program of events and register your place: https://events.humanitix.com/skill-share-saturdays-at-the-planetary-health-centre
Registrations essential.
We are also inviting expressions of interest from individuals and organisations who would like to contribute to the program - please reach out to [email protected] if you are interested!...
🍃Volunteer weekly at the Planetary Health Centre 🍃
From next week, Tuesday 28th April, come and join Leni from @alchemyfarms_permaculture from 10am - 12pm, to help with the management of the Planetary Health veggie gardens, where any surplus produce can be shared!
The gardening session will be followed by a complimentary tea or coffee in the Planetary Health cafe.
📆Day: Every Tuesday 🕙Time: 10AM - 12PM
📍Where: Blue Mountains Planetary Health Centre 33-39 Acacia Street Katoomba (follow the pathways at each side of the building, round to the terrace and gardens).
What shall I bring? All you need to bring is water, gardening gloves and a hat.
Last week we had the pleasure of hosting the first year Medical students from @notredamesyd for their Rural and Indigenous Immersion trip across Katoomba and Lithgow. Across two days, 150 students learnt about the link between human health and a healthy environment, the work of the @bluemountainsplanetaryhealth Initiative and the @bluemountainscitycouncil to create climate resilient communities, and got to explore our site using heat mapping tools....
Join Rotarians for Planetary Health on International Women`s Day, from 2.30-4pm Sun 8 March, for the opening of a portrait display to celebrate local women who have made a meaningful impact on protecting animals and nature. The photographs by Sue Lightfoot and others are part of a long-term initiative to build a living, community-driven database of women working to protect animals and the natural world.
The display will be open until 1 April, Thursday to Saturday, 9.30am–3.30pm at the Junction 142 Village markets (church space). As the project develops, community members will be invited to nominate women whose work deserves recognition.
The launch follows the Uniting Church and Plant Inspired`s monthly community luncheon from 12-2pm, which this month features the Older Women`s Network Blue Mountains. For more information contact 0434 691 496 (Teya)
In a world being threatened by war, greed, cruelty and selfishness, the Planetary Health Wellness Weekend will close with a gathering of people who have faith that kindness, generosity, love, creativity and community, and the healing of our land, are a better way forward. We`re thrilled that harpist Dawn Egan will be performing at this inspiring event in the Planetary Health exhibition space. Afternoon tea will be provided. Register to attend here (link in profile under Wellness Weekend): https://bit.ly/4kUkzfm
Had lunch yet? Head over to the Planetary Health Centre for these delicious offerings from @8thingskatoomba today (Sat 28 Feb): South Indian dosa, Korean bao, NY Cheese burger, Bali nasi, Mullum tofu fries, shoestring fires & red bean mochi!
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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