Richmond works on track

CLARENCE City for the Richmond Bridge in December, before bicentenary celebrations for the Village Fair are held in March 2024.

The Richmond Colonial Village Fair will be held on 26 March between 9.30am-3pm, in the Richmond township. Entry is $5 per person or $10 for a family.

Council’s upgrades to the Richmond Riverbank Parklands area are well underway, with the project set to make the iconic tourism destination more accessible for all.

Works are being undertaken on the west side of the Coal River, just south of the historic Richmond Bridge, and include new stairs, a larger viewing platform, and upgrades to pathways alongside the river and connecting to the Bathurst Street carpark. Clarence Mayor Brendan Blomeley said it was important this iconic location receive an accessibility upgrade.

“It is paramount that we are always working on ways we can improve accessibility in our city, especially when we are talking about such popular, stunning locations such as the Richmond Riverbank,” he said.

“As the area is a drawcard for tourists and locals alike, the project is being completed in three stages so it can still be enjoyed during the works and the park can remain open and disruption to visitors will be kept to a minimum.”

A new staircase from Bridge Street down to the west side of the Coal River was the first component, with stones from the old staircase repurposed in retaining walls at the site.

The next stage will be a new, larger viewing platform, similar in style to the existing platform but set back further into the riverbank to allow for better access.

The final stage will be improving the seating and surface alongside the river, with a new concrete pathway between the Bathurst Street carpark and the viewing platform to improve accessibility for wheelchairs and prams.

Landscaping and a new irrigation system will also be completed as part of the project.