Campbelltown’s Billabong Parklands gets grand opening

Campbelltown City Council used the last weekend to officially open its long awaited Billabong Parklands, giving the local community the opportunity to experience the innovation recreation space.

Campbelltown Mayor Dr George Greiss declared the Parklands open at a special Grand Opening event on Saturday 8th June, followed by a series of community events and activities on Sunday 9th and Monday 10th June.

Located in the suburb of Bradbury, opposite the Campbelltown Art Centre, Gordon Fetterplace Aquatic Centre and the Bradbury Oval, the four-hectare site features water play features, expansive lawn areas, pavilions with change facilities, picnic areas with seating, winding pathways, shade structures, natural tree cover and garden beds with native plants.

Its centrepiece is the 16,000 metre² Billabong swimming pool, which includes rockpools inspired by the rapids, waterfalls and rock pools of the Dharawal National Park, a 2.5-metre-deep lagoon and a zero-depth water play area with a range of interactive water elements.

The main pool will open to the public in the warmer months between September and May.

The surrounding Parklands are open year-round for people to gather for picnics with family and friends, enjoy a walk through the serene open spaces or take part in the diverse events and activities program that will take place throughout the year.

Visitors to the Parklands are greeted by a special welcome artwork at the entrance, developed with public artists Milne and Stonehouse, the local Aboriginal community and renowned indigenous artist Danielle Mate.

Standing between the children's pool and main lagoon is a spectacular bridge featuring a series of rings and metal mesh structure featuring an artwork that symbolises the Parklands' theme of a land between two rivers, representing Campbelltown's place between the Georges River and Nepean River.

The bridge was designed with public artists Milne & Stonehouse, along with Aunty Phyllis Stewart, Aunty Annette Houston and Clarinda Vinter from the Yirran Miigaydhu Weavers Group at Campbelltown Arts Centre.

The Parklands is located at the corner of The Parkway and Moore-Oxley Bypass, Bradbury.

Speaking at the opening, Mayor Greiss advised "I'm delighted to be able to invite local residents to this exciting opening weekend to get a first look at the Campbelltown Billabong Parklands, a spectacular one-of-a-kind recreation space for south west Sydney.

"The opening weekend will be a fantastic celebration and I look forward to welcoming people into the Parklands for the first time.

"The Billabong Parklands is a significant investment in the future of Campbelltown and will be a meeting place in the heart of our city for friends and families to enjoy over many generations to come."

The project has been funded by the Council, the Federal Government and NSW Government under the Western Parkland City Liveability Program as part of the Western Sydney City Deal (the Deal). The Deal is a 20 year-agreement between Australian and NSW governments, and the eight local Councils of the Western Parkland City.

A further $3.6 million has been funded by the NSW Government to support the development of gateway areas around the site.

NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Paul Scully added “the Billabong Parklands will offer the people of Campbelltown a new and unique public space with a range of fun activities for people of all ages. With activities like water play, landscaped areas and parklands, as well as a swimming lagoon and zero-depth play area for those with young families.

"This joint funding with the Federal Government and Council will deliver a valuable public space for residents and visitors in Wester Sydney to relax with family and friends.”

Images show the completed Campbelltown Billabong Parklands.