Parklands notices

What we are doing in response to Covid-19

Updated Wednesday 21 October 2020

The health and safety of our visitors and staff is our priority.

We are closely checking and responding to NSW Health advice in this rapidly changing environment and will keep you updated as health restrictions are eased.

Western Sydney Parklands is open and we are monitoring visitor numbers and behaviour to make sure we continue to provide a quality experience for everyone.

If  COVID-19 numbers increase and social distancing becomes difficult, we will consider making the Parklands pedestrian-only and closing playgrounds if necessary.

Here is the latest advice (effective from Friday 23 October 2020):

• Exercise is permitted with safe social distancing (1.5m) and groups up to 30 people.
• Playgrounds and outdoor equipment are open but to be used with caution. You must practise safe social distancing (1.5m), good hand hygiene and limit gatherings to 30 people.
• Picnics and outdoor social gatherings of up to 30 people with social distancing (1.5m) are allowed.
• Parklands picnic shelters are open for bookings up to 20 people with social distancing (1.5m).  
• Most cafes and food outlets in the Parklands are now open, with restrictions in place.
• All major events are cancelled.
• Community sporting activities, including training sessions, may recommence.
  • Where the activities involve more than 30 participants, the organiser must have a COVID-19 Safety Plan and the Trust will need to approve the plan prior to booking. 
  • Participants include players, people who are training, officials and spectators. 
  • The maximum number of participants at a community sporting activity must not exceed 500 participants.
  • Commercial fitness groups and personal trainers must obtain a permit to operate in the Parklands.

• Weddings: for booking inquiries, please contact the Trust to discuss your arrangements on (02) 9895 7500 or email; info@wspt.nsw.gov.au.

Check our Frequently Asked Questions for details. For more information, see the NSW Government rules on what you can and can't do.

Be COVID-19 safe

To keep yourself and others safe, remember to:

• Use playground or exercise equipment with caution.
• Regularly wash your hands with soap or use hand sanitiser solution (minimum 60% alcohol) or wipes when using public facilities including playgrounds, shelters, barbecues and toilets.
• Practise social distancing of 1.5 metres and do not gather in groups of more than 30 people, including children. Please be considerate of others and give them space on paths, tracks and in the parklands.
• Practise cough and sneeze hygiene by covering your nose and mouth with your elbow. Tissues should be placed in bins provided.
• Stay home and get tested if you are unwell.
• If you have recently returned from overseas or have had close or casual contact with a person with COVID-19, you must self-isolate for 14 days. See NSW Health COVID-19 website for more details.
• Download the COVIDSafe app today.   

Parklands staff and contractors

Parklands staff are required to practise social distancing and will be keeping a close eye on visitors to ensure the Health Orders are followed.

Staff will also follow hygiene rules, stay home if they feel unwell and self-isolate if they have recently returned from overseas or have come in close or casual contact with a COVID-19 positive person.

NSW Police have declared that they will be officially monitoring and enforcing Government protocols, supported by Parklands staff when necessary.

Venue closures and changes

The following venues are OPEN to the public as follows:

• Amoretti’s Abbotsbury, Plough and Harrow – now open, with limited dining service.
• Calmsley Hill Farm –  now open, with restrictions. 
• Lizard Log Markets –  now open, with restrictions. Food box deliveries still available to order.
• Raging Waters Sydney- opening 3 October, with restrictions. See their operating hours
• Saluti Café by Novella Lizard Log – serving takeaway food and drinks.
• Skyline Drive-in cinema – now open, with restrictions.
• Sydney Zoo – open from Saturday 6 June 2020, with restrictions.
• Stallion Burgers, Bungarribee – serving takeaway food and drinks.
• Sydney Motorsport Park – now open, with restrictions.
• The Cricketers Arms Hotel – now open, with restrictions.
• TreeTops, Western Sydney – now open, with restrictions.
• Western Sydney International Dragway – now open, with restrictions.

Please check directly with the venues if you have any questions about their operating hours or services.

For more information

For more information, see our Frequently Asked Questions or contact us via: info@wspt.nsw.gov.au.

Notice of Hearts Crossing Loop closure for improvement works

Scheduled works at Bungarribee Park are being carried out to construct a pedestrian bridge over Eastern Creek and associated tracks and plantings to provide a better connection for walkers and cyclists between the eastern and western sides of the Park. The new bridge is expected to be open early 2021, weather permitting. 

Due to this work, parts of the Hearts Crossing Loop will be temporarily closed until construction is completed. 

Trail closures are for visitor safety while various improvement work to sections of the Loop is underway. 

Thank you for your understanding while this important improvement work is carried out. 

M12 Investigations underway in the Parklands

Western Sydney Parklands Trust continues to work closely with the M12 Motorway team as they prepare for the motorway to start construction in 2022.

This preparation includes doing geo-technical investigation and survey works inside the Parklands. The results will provide information on the soil profile of the ground so the project team can prepare the detailed design to build the motorway.

Over the next few months when visiting the Parklands, you may see activity associated with these investigations. This means seeing or hearing a rig drilling borehole, seeing crews digging test pits or vehicles accessing more remote areas of the Parklands.

The work is not expected to be very noisy and crews will work to get in and out of an area as quickly as possible.

Work areas will be secured during the investigations and access to the general public will not be permissible.

We will work with the M12 team to ensure any dirt dug up is backfilled and any turf that may have been disturbed during the work is re-turfed.

Thank you for your patience while these investigations are underway. See our frequently asked questions for information about changes to WYLDE MTB due to the construction of the M12.

For more information about the investigations or the M12 email m12motorway@rms.nsw.gov.au or call 1800 517 155.

Hanover Street, Cecil Hills track closure

The Trust advises of the closure of the Hanover Street, Cecil Hills pedestrian access to the Parklands.

The Trust has made numerous attempts to resolve an on-going issue with night time anti-social and illegal activity at this track but the problem has proven to be intractable, impacting on the quality of life of local residents.  Following community consultation meetings with residents, NSW Police and Liverpool City Council, the Trust implemented control measures over the last three years.  Unfortunately, these measures have not been effective at stopping the disturbance to local residents.  The Trust has now made the decision that the only viable strategy is to remove the stairs and the access via Hanover Street.

Cecil Hills residents can still access the M7 cycleway and Parklands from the two other nearby track entries at Kensington Close and Jaquetta Close (Rene Place) – both approximately 10minute walk from the Hanover Street entrance.   

The Trust is satisfied that on balance, the benefit of the track for the small number of genuine users was not enough to warrant the ongoing disruption of local residents’ lives. 

In 2020 the Trust is planning a refresh to the overall Parklands tracks and trails masterplan and in this process, will consider the long-term access solutions in Cecil Hills and adjacent residential areas. For more information on Western Sydney Parklands track and trails click here.