A first step to the possible reopening of Blaxland War Memorial Park has been taken, with Blue Mountains mayor Mark Greenhill announcing a traffic study for the project.
The study will focus on the intersection of the Great Western Highway and Wilson Way, a junction crucial to providing safe access to the closed park.
The area between the railway line and the Great Western Highway was a park for many years but it was effectively landlocked by road developments that took place decades ago.
However a recent Crown Land Review has allowed to council to explore the possibility that it takes ownership and the land is looked at for restoration as a park.
"The big challenge is access," said the mayor. "Various pieces of state government infrastructure lock the park away and at present there is no safe access.
"Our staff have had recent dialogue with Transport for NSW (TfNSW) in relation to this matter. BMCC will undertake a traffic study at the intersection of the Great Western Highway and Wilson Way.
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"This study aims to inform a design for potential pedestrian access to Blaxland War Memorial Park. With the introduction of the Crown Land Review, now is the perfect time to get that work done."
Ward 4 Liberal Party Cr Brendan Christie said the traffic study was "good news" for residents campaigning to reopen the park.
"It is the next key step in getting Blaxland Park reopened for our community. I strongly back this and I am glad that the Crown Land Review means council now has a chance to take this important initiative forward," he said.
Once complete, TfNSW would review the traffic study's findings.
"Council is writing to the agency to see what support they may be able to give us on order to get this work done as soon as practicable," said the mayor.
"If we get a positive outcome from the traffic study and Crown Land Review, we can start the serious work of planning for the reopening of the park, including potential state and federal government grants."
Transport for NSW western director Alistair Lunn said the organisation "will continue to work closely with Blue Mountains City Council and fully support this development".
