Campbelltown Billabong Parklands project, Bradbury: Opening delayed due to construction issues

Residents of Macarthur will have to wait a lot longer to go for a splash at the multimillion-dollar water facility. Read about why construction has been delayed.

The grand opening of the Campbelltown Billabong Parklands at Bradbury has been delayed after construction efforts have been hampered by wild weather and the pandemic.

The $34 million project, announced in January 2019, is being funded by Campbelltown Council and the state and federal governments under the Western Sydney City Deal Liveability Program.

The main features of the Campbelltown Billabong Parklands will begin to take shape over the coming months as construction gets underway on the iconic swimming lagoon at the end of June.

Work on the lagoon follows the completion of significant site preparation, retaining and drainage works while landscaping works have also started along the Oxley Street perimeter of the parklands.

When the funding was initially announced in 2019, it was projected the waterpark would be open to the public by 2021.

Earlier this year, Campbelltown Council’s director of city lifestyles Scott Grant told the Macarthur Chronicle that the project would be completed and open by December 2022.

However in a report to Council for next week’s meeting, the project’s completion date has been updated to September 2023 in response to delays during COVID-19 lockdowns and unprecedented wet weather this year impacting planned earthworks on the site.

“The Campbelltown Billabong Parklands will deliver a unique space that is reflective of the region’s natural identity and Aboriginal and European history where people can walk, picnic and enjoy recreational activities as well as being a space for community events,” Mayor George

Greiss said.

“While we have experienced some delays in the project due tCovidID lockdown and difficulties with recent weather, significant onsite works are now progressing and I look forward to seeing the parklands start to take shape.

“This exciting project will be a great new addition to our city and a place where families and friends can come together to enjoy,” he said.

Council has also been successful in applying for a $3.65 million grant from the NSW Public Legacy Program, which will be used to enhance the public open space at Apex Park adjoining the Billabong Parklands.

In addition to funding from the NSW State Government and Federal Government through the Western Sydney City Deal Liveability Fund and Council, this brings the total value of the projects to $34.65 million.

What will the facility look like?

The Billabong Parklands is being built at Apex Park beside Bradbury Oval, on the corner of The Parkway and Moore-Oxley Bypass.

It will comprise water bodies that represent a natural billabong as well as shallow water play facilities for younger children.

They will incorporate a lagoon that will be up to 2m deep, a children’s pool, a series of rock pools with streams and a “zero-depth” water play area with interactive aquatic elements.

The design has been inspired by the natural Campbelltown environment including the rock pools, waterfalls and streams of the Dharawal National Park at Appin.