It has taken many years for the plans for rehabilitation of Westleigh Park to be finalised. The land was acquired by Hornsby Council from Sydney Water in 2016 and has a long history of neglect with mountain bikers being allowed to make use of the site to create trails in high quality bushland that includes many threatened species. About a third of the area is bushland.
Many parts of the site are contaminated with asbestos and PFAS, a legacy of its past use for fire-fighting training and landfill. It is a large area comprising 36 hectares. Redevelopment is to occur over three stages and will involve the construction of three sporting fields, playgrounds, walking tracks and access roads and car parking. It appears that, unfortunately some synthetic turf will be included.
This large development will be very expensive. Hornsby Council was shocked to learn that promised government funding was withdrawn because the planning process had taken so long. They can now only afford to carry out the first stage that involves delivery of the southern field of play (comprising two sports fields), associated amenities, access road, car parking and rehabilitated mountain bike trails.
The existence of the mountain bike trails has been very controversial with the mountain bikers trying hard to maintain the status quo. But there has been extensive damage to the critically endangered STIF and endangered Duffys Forest. After an extensive community consultation, including a co-design process involving a broad cross-section of community members, a compromise has been enforced with some tracks remaining that cross the endangered forests.
The mountain bike trail network is now closed and construction has commenced with the completed trail network expected to open in early-2027.
The current unsanctioned trails
The new approved trails
