Parkes Shire Council is progressing with plans to transform Parkes’ former wastewater treatment ponds into a biodiverse, naturalistic landscape that will provide recreational, environmental, and cultural value to our community.
Jointly funded by Council and the Commonwealth Government, this exciting project will result in an aquatic boardwalk, two purpose-built bird hides, public art installations, interpretive signage, extensive revegetation, and engineered habitats to promote ecological diversity.
These upgrades will build on significant earlier works, which included reshaping the former ponds into a hydrologically diverse wetland system and creating a 2.5-kilometre walking track around the site. Subject to further funding, Council plans to connect this track with Parkes’ existing walkway network, eventually linking it to the track that terminates at Billabong Creek on Eugowra Road.
While the site remains closed to the public until the completion, residents can visit the wetlands on National Tree Day, Sunday 27 July. This annual event, jointly hosted by Parkes Shire Council and Central West Lachlan Landcare, has been held at the wetlands site and surrounding land since 2018.
People interested in participating in National Tree Day are asked to register at www.treeday.planetark.org/