News & Events

Blacktown City Council will enter into a 50 year lease with a 25 year renewal option for Nurragingy Reserve, with the State Government it was officially announced this morning at Nurragingy Reserve, Knox Road Doonside.

The 84 hectare nature reserve in Doonside, which is owned by the State Government's Department of Planning, was leased to Council under a twenty year lease that ended in 2007. Council has been in negotiations with the State Government to have Nurragingy Reserve transferred into Council's long-term control for the past 10 years.

Following representations and support from the Premier Nathan Rees MP, a formal offer of a long-term lease was made by the Western Sydney Parklands Trust to Council.

The terms include a 50 year lease for the reserve with a 25 year renewal option with the Western Sydney Parklands Trust for all of land that makes up Nurragingy Reserve.

The lease also includes a $3 million cash grant from the Parklands Trust to Council for capital works within Nurragingy Reserve, and a further $2 million for ongoing maintenance costs.

At Council's Ordinary meeting on 2 September 2009, Council resolved to accept the terms of the lease offered by the State Government through the Western Sydney Parklands Trust.

"Council has been lobbying the State Government for many years to secure a long term lease for Nurragingy Reserve and we are pleased with the results that have been achieved", Mayor of Blacktown City, Councillor Charlie Lowles said.

"Nurragingy Reserve has a long history in Blacktown City being one of our City's major Bicentenary projects on 1988 - it is one of our City's major attractions and is an outstanding bush parkland and recreational area for the Blacktown City community and Western Sydney".

"I especially wish to thank the NSW Premier, Mr Nathan Rees who met with Council, and whose personal efforts greatly assisted in ensuring that the right outcome was achieved. This lease marks an important point in our City's history and is a great achievement of this Council", Mayor Lowles continued.

Council also resolved to commence work on a Chinese Garden within Nurragingy Reserve in conjunction with Council's Sister City, Liaocheng, Shandong Province, People's Republic of China.

"This exciting project will ensure Nurragingy Reserve remains an important tourist destination in Blacktown City and will offer a very special cultural element to the reserve", Mayor Lowles said. I am certain that it will become a centre piece in Western Sydney for our large and growing Asian communities

A report on the proposed design of the Chinese Garden will be reported to Council as soon as possible.

Nurragingy Reserve is located on Knox Road, Doonside. Nurragingy Reserve is a great place to relax and have a good time. It offers the following attractions and facilities:

• picnic and BBQ areas (wood supplied)
• children's playgrounds
• bush walking tracks
• formal garden areas, planted as International Gardens
• quiet shaded areas and pavilions
• a waterfall
• natural bushland ideal for nature studies
• toilets
• wedding garden areas (bookings essential)
• the Nurragingy Blacksmith
• the Colebee Centre

Above: Mayor of Blacktown City, Councillor Charlie Lowles with NSW Premier, Mr Nathan Rees at Nurrgingy Reserve on September 18, 2009.