Macquarie Park upgrades to make life by the river safer and more enjoyable

12 December 2024

Fancy relaxing at Macquarie Park with your family while gazing across the beautiful Hawkesbury River?

Longing for an improved playground experience for your family?

Major improvements are now underway at Macquarie Park in Windsor, breathing fresh life into the beloved riverside recreation space. The $1.8 million project includes State Government funding thanks to its Places to Swim program ($839,400), Community Local Infrastructure Recovery Package Community Asset Program ($600,000), and a $550,000 contribution from Hawkesbury City Council, creating more options for safe recreation around our river.

The works will include added shade structures, picnic facilities, signage and a path and trail network to improve accessibility. New picnic areas adjacent to the riverbank that will include shade, seating, tables, barbeques and drinking fountain. There will also be an emergency access ramp down to the beach area. The existing picnic area will be upgraded with new table settings and additional shade. Each of these facilities will be suitable for all ages and abilities.

These works will also increase visibility from the park to the riverbank through landscaping, improving safety for river users. Signage will be upgraded to provide risk, water quality and water safety messaging.

The existing playspace will be upgraded so that it is more suitable for a regional destination park and will include a water play splash area with water pumps, sluice gates and a nature play creek bed. Other additions include a basket swing, a rope canoe swing spinner and nature balance play. The playspace upgrade will be flood resilient and will include play that is suitable for all ages and abilities, include shade, trees and landscaping.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Paul Scully, said the NSW Government has invested a combined $1.8 million towards Macquarie Park foreshore’s upgrade through the Places to Swim and Community Local Infrastructure Recovery programs.

“Macquarie Park has long been a much loved place for Windsor and surrounding Hawkesbury communities,” Mr Scully said.

“This revitalisation will enhance the park, providing a great place to picnic and safely access the water for recreation in Western Sydney.”

These works were identified in the Macquarie Park Plan of Management and Masterplan, which was developed from community feedback in 2020, and was adopted by Council in August 2023.

There will be impacts to playground access and sections of the park during construction. Weather permitting, it is expected these works will be completed in winter 2025.

Places to Swim is connecting people to water in places that need it the most, creating better access to get in, on and around inland waterways across NSW through a $16.7 million commitment to high quality open space. Together with the NSW Government, Hawkesbury City Council is delivering infrastructure that is essential for communities, increasing access to water for recreation across the state. For more information about the Places to Swim program, visit https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/policy-and-legislation/open-space/open-spaces-program/places-to-swimThis external link will open in a new windowThis external link will open in a new window