Leura Community Alliance

25/06/2026

LEURA DESERVES BETTER - for many years, the Leura Community Alliance has sought to work constructively with the Council to secure a real, lasting solution to the growing impacts of unmanaged tourist bus movements in our village.

We made a comprehensive submission on the Council’s draft Visitor Bus Management Plan. We met with Council. We engaged in good faith on behalf of our community.

When the adopted Plan failed to deliver immediate action - offering only trials and more consultation - we publicly expressed our disappointment.

Most recently, when we nominated our Chair for the new Leura Village Bus Parking Layout Stakeholder Engagement Group, Council excluded the Alliance from membership - despite our nominee meeting every eligibility criterion.

This decision appears to be a punitive response to the Alliance’s robust advocacy for meaningful action on the escalating tourist bus problem.

We have now written to the Council formally protesting this exclusion and requesting that the decision be reconsidered.

The wider Leura community deserves to know what is happening.

If you believe your community’s peak representative group should not be shut out of key discussions affecting our village, we encourage you to respectfully make your views known to Council by writing to –
CEO Rosemary Dillon - [email protected]
and our three Ward 1 Councillors –
Cllr Suzie Van Opdorp - [email protected]
Cllr Suzanne Jamieson - [email protected]
Cllr Sarah Redshaw - [email protected]

Your voice matters - and it is needed now.

24/06/2026

Longtime Leura Stationmaster David Ward is retiring - join us in acknowledging his well-deserved retirement at 10.00am this Friday 26 June on the Leura Railway Station platform.

David is widely known among daily commuters for his cheery greetings, good humour and the genuine care he has shown to residents travelling in the early hours - often on cold, mist-shrouded mornings. For many, his presence has been a defining part of the village’s daily rhythm.

To mark his retirement, the Leura Community Alliance will present David with a Certificate of Appreciation on his final day of service, recognising his contribution to the character and spirit of the village. We hope you can join us.

Image - courtesy Enrique Reyes, Leura Locals facebook post 11jun26

10/06/2026

From Susan Templeman’s Macquarie Newsletter dated 10jun2026 ...

"WSI COMMUNITY SESSIONS
Over the coming weeks, Airservices Australia is hosting pop up stalls and online sessions to provide information about current and future noise and overhead flights.
As you know I am committed to keeping you in the loop with matters related to Western Sydney International Airport and flight paths over our community, ahead of flights starting at WSI in July this year.
Wednesday 10 June (today!) 2pm - 6pm Richmond Market Place (opposite Optus)
Thursday 18 June 2pm - 6pm Westfield Penrith (opposite Nadia’s café).
Friday 19 June 1pm - 5pm Blue Mountains Theatre and Community Hub forecourt, Springwood.

I have also asked that out of hours times be made available so working people can access the face to face sessions.

Online webinar - Monday 29 June, 6pm–7pm
To get the link to the online webinars, or see other community pop ups, head to https://engage.airservicesaustralia.com/western-sydney-airport/news_feed/upcoming-community-pop-ups-and-webinars

I remain concerned about the noise impacts we will experience once flights begin and I will continue my advocacy.

Please continue to send me your feedback to [email protected] "

24/05/2026

Bloome Park, BMCC Neighbourhood Park Program - based on feedback from our members and research we have conducted with park users, the Alliance has identified the key elements that we believe need to be included in any upgrading of park facilities.

With submissions closing today (Sunday 24may26) at https://yoursay.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/neighbourhood-parks/surveys/bloome-park-leura-2 the Alliance has forwarded to Council a detailed submission clearly articulating what we have established to be the priorities of residents and visitors using what is clearly one of Leura’s most popular public spaces.

Image – Bloome Park’s iconic entrance on the Leura Mall/Craigend Street corner (courtesy Michael2019, google maps)

24/05/2026

Many residents are only now discovering that the Council has suspended the free textile-recycling service at its Waste Management Facilities.
A $52.00 fee now applies for textile drop off. Alternatively, you need to place these materials in your red bin to go to landfill.
Until the Council is able to secure a new partner and restore the former arrangements, the Alliance is asking the Council to consider introducing a periodic drop-off service as adopted in other LGAs. See our letter dated 24may26 to Council.

23/05/2026

The Council has released concept plans for four sections of the proposed Great Blue Mountains Trail in the upper mountains. Comprising a walking path and cycling link, part of the first route traverses an area between Leura Cascades and Kiah Lookout. While the other proposed routes continue into Katoomba, it is expected that the completed Trial will be used by Leura residents and visitors alike.

Details of the project can be found at the link https://yoursay.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/great-blue-mountains-trail In addition, Council officers will be available to discuss these plans at a community stall to be held at the Echo Point Visitor Information Centre in Katoomba on Thursday 28 May between 9.00am and 11.00am.

Residents are being encouraged to complete a survey on the Route concept plans which can be accessed https://yoursay.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/great-blue-mountains-trail Responses need to be completed by 9.00am on Monday 8 June.

Image - BMCC Active Trnsport Links Great Blue Mountains Trail, Route1 Kiah Lookout (via Leura Cascades) to Echo Point

21/05/2026

The development of the former Ritz Nursing Home site in Leura Mall for seniors housing has been given the green light by the regulator.

Comprehensive conditions of consent, including in relation to heritage conservation, will apply to the project and is available by emailing [email protected] with the subject line - The Ritz SSD Consent

Details of the approved project, including designs etc can be accessed on the Planning Portal https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/major-projects/projects/pathways-leura-village-seniors-housing

BMG online article dated 21may26 can be found at https://www.bluemountainsgazette.com.au/story/9250930/the-ritz-at-leura-40m-luxury-retirement-home-approved/

Image courtesy flickr.com - The Ritz c1935 in its 'hotel' heyday with graceful gardens prior to becoming The Ritz Nursing Home in the 1970s.

20/05/2026

The Alliance is pleased to advise that the Council has had a change of heart in response to our request that Leura and Katoomba be given priority in the future roll out of EV chargers in the Mountains.

In reporting on our campaign, the Gazette has secured a commitment from the Council’s CEO to make Leura and Katoomba potential prioritised locations for EV charger infrastructure.

11/05/2026

Have Your Say to the Blue Mountains Gazette regarding 'How You're Feeling about Life in Your Community' in their Heartbeat of Australia 2026 survey.
https://www.bluemountainsgazette.com.au/story/9243051/heartbeat-of-australia-survey-tell-us-about-your-community/

08/05/2026

Well we tried. The Alliance asked the Council to give priority to Leura and Katoomba in any future roll-out of electrical vehicle chargers in the Mountains. (Fast EV chargers installed on Council land are only available at Glenbrook and Lawson.)

Notwithstanding the compelling evidence we provided to support this proposition, the Council was not prepared to give this commitment.

>>>>>>>>>>>>
From: Kirrilly Twomey
Date: Thu, May 7, 2026 at 1:44 PM
Subject: CSR 658477 - Public EV Chargers
To: [email protected]
Cc: Mark Greenhill , Rosemary Dillon

Dear Rod & Karl

Thank you for your email regarding EV chargers in Leura and Katoomba. The Mayor has made representations on your behalf.

Blue Mountains City Council (BMCC) is committed to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in our operations and across the community. The BMCC Community Net Zero Plan (2024–2033) identifies transport as a key source of emissions and includes actions to support the rollout of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. This has successfully seen the installation of two fast chargers on Council land, in Lawson and Blaxland. These charge sites represent 2 out of the 5 fast chargers currently available in the mountains. The other three locations being Glenbrook Ampol, Hazelbrook Ampol & the Katoomba Town Centre Motel. However please note that while the NSW Government has increased funding in this area, the Blue Mountains local government area was not eligible for the most recent fast-charging and destination-charging grant programs.

Council staff actively engages with the NSW Government on EV charging and will formally advocate for inclusion of the Blue Mountains in future EV charging grant funding rounds. Additionally we are currently developing a grant application to the Electric Vehicle Kerbside Charging - Council Capacity Building Funding Round. If successful this would be used to support our efforts to identify, strategically prioritise and utilise suitable council land to increase the number of chargers. Council also continues to engage with a number of Charge Point Operators about expanding the fast charging network.

BMCC will continue to progress this work to help ensure EV charging infrastructure across the Blue Mountains is sufficient to support EV uptake and deliver on Council’s climate and sustainability commitments, while also considering social and economic outcomes for our communities. As part of this process, and implementing the Community Towards Net Zero Plan more generally, we will continue, and welcome, opportunities to consult and work with the Blue Mountains community as appropriate, and appreciate your eagerness and advocacy in this space. If you have any further questions please direct them to Philip Spiers [email protected].

Kind regards
Kirrilly Twomey | Director, Cultural and Community Services
m 0414 195 891| e [email protected]
Blue Mountains City Council  [email protected]  www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au  Locked Bag 1005 Katoomba NSW 2780
Working on Gundungurra and Dharug Ngurra (Country), I recognise the deep and ongoing spiritual connection to, and custodianship of, Ngurra.

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE - This message is intended for the addressee/s named and may contain confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, please delete it (do not read, use, disseminate, distribute or copy this message or attachments) and notify the sender immediately. Views expressed in this message are those of the individual sender, and are not necessarily the views of the Blue Mountains City Council. The copyright of this communication belongs to the Blue Mountains City Council. DISCLAIMER - Before opening any attachments, please check them for viruses and defects. Neither the sender nor Blue Mountains City Council accepts liability for any viruses, errors or omissions in the contents of this message or attachment, which arise as a result of email transmission.
>>>>>>>>>>>>

Send a message to learn more