Walka Water Works

Walka Water Works is a heritage-listed complex in Maitland, NSW set on 64 hectares of natural reserve. At the time of construction in the late 1800s, Walka Water Works was the largest industrial project in the Hunter Valley and once supplied clean water across Newcastle and the Hunter Valley and was crucial to the region’s development.

Today, the site is a cherished open space and recreation area for the Maitland community. The site is an important part of Maitland’s Destination Management Plan, identified as a priority destination hub with a focus on nature-based tourism.

Parts of the site are currently inaccessible due to contamination associated with a power station that operated on site from 1950 to 1970. In addition, the historic pumphouse building requires works to improve public safety and use.

Maitland City Council – which manages the site on behalf of Crown Lands – has engaged Ramboll as the Principal Planning Consultant, leading a multidisciplinary team to address the remediation, restoration, and revitalisation of Walka Water Works.

Our scope encompasses preparing pre-planning documents setting the long-term vision for the site, as well as development applications for initial stages including crucial remediation works.

The key project outputs include a Masterplan, Plan of Management, Conservation Management Plan, Concept Plan, and Social Impact Study. The work is underpinned by an extensive community engagement process.

Our team combines deep local knowledge with Ramboll’s global expertise, and includes ecologists, heritage specialists, landscape designers, architects and other technical experts. We are drawing on Ramboll’s strengths in multidisciplinary masterplanning, site solutions and environmental remediation to address the unique challenges of this complex site.

We are exploring a range of opportunities for adaptive reuse, activation and environmental enhancement, creating a new vision for Walka Water Works that places sustainability and community use front and centre.