Western Sydney Parklands: Australia’s Largest Urban Park

Abstract

The important role of large urban parks in biodiversity conservation is becoming more widely recognized. Because many large urban parks contain substantial areas that meet the IUCN definition of ‘protected area’ there is an urgent need for management to protect them from threats posed by more intense recreation uses and a range of environmental impacts. Sustainable development principles applied to the management of large urban parks can achieve a balance between protecting biodiversity values and providing opportunities for visitors to engage with, enjoy and appreciate nature. This paper makes the argument for greater recognition of the need to incorporate sustainable development principles in the planning, design, development and management of large urban parks to achieve a balance between biodiversity conservation and the wide range of other roles and functions they are required to perform. The 5,280 ha Western Sydney Parklands provide valuable lessons on how sustainable development principles can be applied to protect and manage biodiversity values while offering a diverse range of recreation facilities to meet the needs of a rapidly growing population in western Sydney. The Parklands also demonstrate a model for economic sustainability that could be relevant to other large urban parks located in major cities.