Major reforms covering some of Sydney’s best-known public parklands have passed the NSW Parliament, introducing changes to funding, leasing and governance arrangements across the Greater Sydney Parklands estate.
The Greater Sydney Parklands Trust Amendment (Review) Bill 2026 covers Callan Park, Centennial Park and Moore Park, Parramatta Park, Western Sydney Parklands and Fernhill Estate, while also allowing the broader parklands estate to expand to include Warrawong Parklands.
The NSW Government says the reforms are intended to improve the long-term financial sustainability of the parks while allowing additional facilities and activities, including cafes and other visitor amenities.
Four Main Areas of Reform
The legislation focuses on four key areas:
- Improving the financial sustainability of major parklands to support long-term maintenance, upgrades and expansion.
- Modernising and streamlining leasing, licensing and tender processes across the parklands estate.
- Aligning and strengthening objectives contained in the different pieces of legislation governing Sydney’s major parklands.
- Clarifying governance arrangements, including the role of community trustee boards.
The Bill makes changes to the Greater Sydney Parklands Trust Act 2022, as well as legislation governing Callan Park, Centennial Park and Moore Park, Parramatta Park and Western Sydney Parklands.
More Flexibility for Cafes and Other Park Facilities
One of the practical changes is designed to make it easier for Greater Sydney Parklands to provide or lease facilities that support park visitors.
The Government has highlighted Callan Park as an example, saying the reforms could support amenities such as cafes while retaining the park’s public open-space function.
Planning and Public Spaces Minister Paul Scully said the aim was to allow what the Government describes as sensible park activations while maintaining protections for public land.
The legislation also changes some leasing and tender requirements, including the circumstances in which leases and licences can be granted and how community consultation must occur.
Parklands Remain Protected
The NSW Government says the reforms do not allow the major parklands to be sold and are intended to strengthen their long-term protection and management.
The legislation also clarifies arrangements for transferring or managing additional government and Crown land within the Greater Sydney Parklands framework. Parliamentary amendments removed proposed references to transferring land protected under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974.
The Bill was introduced in February 2026 following recommendations from the Joint Select Committee on the Greater Sydney Parklands Trust.
It passed the Legislative Assembly after amendments in May and completed its passage through Parliament on 17 September 2026. Parliamentary records listed the Bill as awaiting assent following its passage.
The reforms will shape the future management of some of Sydney’s most heavily used public open spaces, with the Government arguing that the changes will make it easier to maintain, improve and activate the parklands while preserving their public role.
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