Landscape Master Plan to 2026
Landscape Master Plan to 2026
The Fernhill Estate Landscape Master Plan to 2026 was adopted by the Minister for Infrastructure, Cities and Active Transport, the Hon. Rob Stokes on on February 17, 2023.
The Landscape Master Plan to 2026 is a high-level plan that outlines how Greater Sydney Parklands will sensitively open up the Estate to visitors in a way that responds to and celebrates Fernhill Estate’s natural and cultural heritage. It delivers on the key moves as defined in the Fernhill Estate Foundation Plan of Management to 2026.
Greater Sydney Parklands has worked with the Aboriginal community and key stakeholders to co-design the Plan, in partnership with consultants Yerrabingin.
We will consult with the community on the design plans for each of the works outlined in this Plan.
The Plan
Between now and 2026, the Plan focuses on areas of the Estate with the least impact on the heritage significance of the landscape. This means the Estate can continue to sensitively open up while Greater Sydney Parklands completes the Conservation Management Plan.
The Landscape Master Plan includes:
- Transforming Fernhill Estate's Northern Drive into a promenade for people to walk and picnic as a key recreational space close to the Hayshed and Orchard.
- Restoring the early colonial landscape setting around Fernhill House.
- Opening up the Northern Dam as a meeting place and for water recreation.
- Establishing Ngunyul, the 1km Big Arc of Indigenous garden that will stretch from Fernhill House to the Northern Dam.
- Developing new walking trails and connections into the Blue Mountains National Park.
- Creating a new native farm gate for Indigenous food production in partnership with the Darug community.
- Creating new and upgraded park entries, working with Transport for NSW on safe and convenient access to Fernhill Estate.
- Developing a new park drive to connect people from the entrance to key recreational areas, and new pedestrian path networks so people can easily move around the Estate.
- Creating a new pedestrian and cycling entrance and nodal carpark at Littlefields Creek to better connect Fernhill Estate with Mulgoa Village.
- Creating a woodland playground near Mulgoa Public School and a safer pick-up and drop-off zone for parents and students, working in consultation with Transport for NSW.
Community consultation
The Landscape Master Plan is a key action of Fernhill Estate’s Foundation Plan of Management to 2026.
It has been prepared in response to community and stakeholder feedback, and the policies and key moves set out in the draft Conservation Management Plan and Foundation Plan of Management to 2026.
The draft Landscape Master Plan was open for community feedback from late 2021 to early 2022.
Throughout our consultation, we’ve heard the following:
- People would prefer to see low impact recreation activities that are sensitive to the character and heritage of the Estate.
- Access to and around the Estate should be a key focus, including from and between Mulgoa Road, and creating new opportunities for walking and cycling.
- There is strong support to deliver the First Nations co-designed projects as a priority.
- The heritage of the Estate is important and alive, especially Fernhill House, its cultural landscapes and the Aboriginal history.
- People want to see works that protect the natural environment, including the extensive bushlands and creeks and critical bird and animal habitats.
- There is a desire for appropriate re-use of existing buildings and structures such as the Hayshed for small scale commercial, social and community uses.
- Planning needs to consider the types of equestrian facilities and activities available for the community.
- People want to see a stronger connection between Fernhill Estate and Mulgoa village.
- The staged opening up of the Estate should be informed by the final Conservation Management Plan.
Read: Public feedback on the Fernhill Estate draft Landscape Master Plan