News

Review of Environmental Factors Report

6 July 2026

In 2020, Council adopted the Leichhardt Park Aquatic Centre Master Plan, which guides upgrades and improvements to this important community asset over the next 10 years. The works have been staged to minimise disruption, with Stage 2 now progressing following completion of Stage 1 works.

Council has developed a draft concept plan and sought community feedback between November 2024 and January 2025. The plans are now finalised. Council is proceeding toward construction using the prepared Review of Environmental Factors (REF). An REF assesses the environmental and social impacts of a project.

Summary of the Review of Environmental Factors report

The purpose of this REF is to describe the activity, to document its likely impacts on the environment, and to detail the protective measures (safeguards) that would be implemented during construction. The REF has been prepared having regard to the relevant regulatory requirements including:

  • EP&A Act
  • Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2021 (the Regulation)
  • Heritage Act 1977
  • Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016
  • NSW Fisheries Management Act 1994
  • Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
  • Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act 2001
  • Contaminated Land Management Act 1997
  • Water Management Act 2000
  • SEPP (Transport and Infrastructure) 2021
  • Inner West Local Environmental Plan 2022

This REF outlines the activity and addresses the matters required under Part 5 of the EP&A Act in order to allow Council to make a determination on proceeding with the works.

This REF has been prepared to fulfil the requirements of Section 5.5 of the EP&A Act to facilitate determination of an activity by the determining authority, which in this case is the Council.

This REF outlines the potential environmental impacts of the proposed maintenance works to the Leichardt Park Aquatic Centre. The proposed activity warrants favourable consideration and support as:

  • The proposed works are expected to result in positive social impacts resulting from the increased amenity of the improved facilities.
  • The proposed works seek to implement the Plan of Management and Masterplan for the aquatic centre.
  • The activity will not negatively impact on the heritage values of Leichhardt Park

The key environmental impacts are temporary construction related impacts such as noise and dust generated from the use of construction tools and demolition works.

All anticipated environmental impacts can be satisfactorily managed through the implementation of site-specific mitigation measures as described within this REF. Carried out in this manner the proposed activity is unlikely to significantly affect the environment and therefore, under section 5.7(1) of the EP&A Act, does not require the preparation of an environmental impact state