The Riverfront Park Character Area is a collection of diverse spaces that share a strong connection to the Parramatta River. Key areas include the well-established picnic and playgrounds of Blaxland Riverside Park, the historic Newington Armory precinct, the protected habitats of Newington Nature Reserve, Cricket Central at Wilson Park and the grasslands of Woo-la-ra.

A continuous River Walk along the Parramatta River foreshore unites these spaces and provides connectivity to the wider parklands of Sydney Olympic Park, neighbouring residential suburbs and regional cycleways. Blaxland Riverside Park is a popular attraction for the local and wider community and will be enhanced with additional playgrounds and a learn to ride facility.

Newington Armory will continue to be a place of discovery where visitors can explore the heritage buildings and vast open landscape that reflect the layers of evolution of the precinct as a naval supply depot that operated for over a hundred years. It will be a place to celebrate First Nations culture and the Wangal people’s long-standing and continuing connection to Country. The vast open spaces of the heritage landscape will provide for quiet enjoyment and respite from bustling urban centres and busy play spaces, and will include opportunities for passive recreation and social gatherings. The lands adjacent to Newington Nature Reserve will be a buffer to the reserve, contain extensions of the threatened ecosystems of the reserve, and provide ecological connectivity.

The heritage wharf on the Parramatta River will be reinvigorated as the key arrival point to Newington Armory with the potential for direct water transport services. There is opportunity for temporary food and drink uses along the wharf to activate this space. An enhanced southern entry to Newington Armory will improve connection to the greater Sydney Olympic Park area and Parramatta Light Rail network. The heritage rail will be a key attraction and means of internal transportation. Adaptive reuse of the heritage buildings will anchor the space as a prominent cultural and arts destination with its theatre, outdoor amphitheatre, artist studios and exhibition spaces.

The design of Riverfront Park is to be guided by the following principles:

General

a. Be consistent with the Parklands Plan of Management.

b. Respect and enhance Wangal Country and the sites’ relationship to water, including the Parramatta River and Newington Nature Reserve.

c. Respond to and prepare for sea level rise and inundation impacts on low lying areas.

d. Development must be consistent with Newington Armament Depot and Nature Reserve Conservation Management Plan.

e. Upgrade Blaxland Riverside Park with a major playground and enhanced river experience for both local and regional visitors.

f. Provide enhanced doorstep open space for the community of Wentworth Point and Newington.

g. Provide urban elements such as wayfinding, bins and lighting as appropriate and in accordance with the Design Manual.

h. Incorporate unique design elements and public artworks that contribute to the identity and sense of place and recognise Country.

i. Celebrate and conserve the heritage of Newington Armory as a significant arts campus and cultural destination, adaptively reusing the Armory buildings for arts, cultural, music and temporary events.

j. The design of Armory Park is to be sensitive, and respond to, the heritage significance of the area.

The Armory Park

The design of the Armory is to be broadly aligned to concept images (view in the full document), including:

1. An entry plaza that celebrates the heritage values of the Newington Armament Depot and Nature Reserve and utilises the existing Gatehouse structures for shade and shelter.
2. Utilising the existing heritage railway for tours. Pedestrian and cyclist movements are to be directed along rail lines to honour these alignments and better use existing pathways.
3. A First Nations’ led space in between the creek and 50m buffer to Newington Nature Reserve. This space is to respond to the needs of the First Nations community and to be culturally safe. This space should also include opportunities for First Nations land care and management.
4. A re-naturalised and expanded creek line with space for enhanced habitat areas. Provide opportunities to engage with the creekline and water.
5. Education and camping facilities adjacent to the Newington Nature Reserve in buildings adjoining the existing birdlife facilities.
6. New built form that provides a stronger visual connection to Blaxland Riverside Park, in the built form expansion zones shown at Figure 4.8.5.
7. Enhanced ecological buffer zones protecting Newington Nature Reserve.
8. Upgrades to open spaces adjacent to armaments bunkers, forming small breakout spaces for formal and informal uses.
9. Increased tree planting of species that respond to the sites history, character and adjacent vegetation communities.
10. Increased planting buffer to Jamieson Street to screen from Silverwater Correctional Complex.
11. Retain the open grassland character and provide opportunities for native meadows and grassland character enhancement.
12. Retain significant views to historic buildings and ecological areas.
13. Additional amenities adjacent to upgraded recreation infrastructure.
14. Permanent ferry stop adjacent to the Armory Wharf.
15. Replacement fence comprising cohesive design which supports the heritage significance of the Armory.

Blaxland Riverside Park

The design of Blaxland Riverside Park is to be broadly aligned to concept images (view in the full document), including:

1. Fitness stations with exercise equipment for a diverse range of users.
   
2. An expanded playground coherently integrated with the existing Blaxland Park playground. The playground should be equipped with:
   a. Nature play elements;
   b. Structure play elements; and
   c. A ‘learn to ride’ space for people of all abilities.
3. The design of the expanded playground should respond to and incorporate:
   a. The sites setting and relationship to adjacent habitat; and
   b. WSUD.
4. A formalised plaza that directs pedestrian movement to key destinations. The plaza should contain interpretation, wayfinding elements and seating.
5. Picnic and barbecue areas with seating and shade structures.

Design Guidelines

The design of Woo-la-ra is to be in accordance with the following design guidelines.

Northern Woo-la-ra Park

A new multi-purpose local park is to be provided at the northern end of Woo-la-ra between the Silverwater marker and Wattlebird Road. The design of this park is to include:

1. Areas of hard stand for two multi-purpose courts, two volleyball courts and two pickleball/badminton courts. The courts should be equipped with appropriate lighting to allow for activities after dark, whilst considering the parks setting adjacent to key habitat.
2. Formal and informal seating.
3. Tree planting and soft landscaping, positioned to maximise passive surveillance from the streets and adjacent residential buildings at Wentworth Point to improve safety.
4. Flora species to be appropriately selected based on the site’s context (adjacent to the nature reserve and grasslands).
5. Habitat opportunities for grassland birds through understorey and grassland plantings. Species selection is to be consistent with adjacent grasslands on Silverwater marker.
6. Provision for smart poles / power points to allow this space to be used for community events.
7. New flexible lawn areas located for informal recreation and play.
8. Picnic and barbecue areas with shade structures and picnic tables.
9. Grade transitions that comprise flat areas that can be activated.
10. Incorporation of WSUD measures.
11. A fenced area for dogs within Northern Woo-la-ra Park.
12. A new local playground (minimum 1,500m2). The new playground should be equipped with:
    Equal access;
    Nature play elements; and
    Structure play elements suitable for infant and junior groups.

Woo-la-ra Moundtop Playground

A new playground should be provided at the high point of the Woo-la-ra mound and grasslands. The design of the playground should include:

1. Level areas of appropriate hardstand and prioritise permeable surfaces where possible.
2. Formal destinational play elements contained to the to the top of the mound to reduce disturbance to surrounding habitat.
3. Seating located to provide views of the nature reserve and Parramatta River.
4. Tree planting of appropriate species that are sensitive to surrounding ecologies and consistent with maintaining landfill integrity.
5. Appropriate shade and shelter.
6. Minimum area of 4,500m2.