Chipping Norton Lake

Chipping Norton Lake
Chipping Norton Lake
Location Chipping Norton, New South Wales
Coordinates 33°54′S 150°57′E / 33.900°S 150.950°E / -33.900; 150.950Coordinates: 33°54′S 150°57′E / 33.900°S 150.950°E / -33.900; 150.950
Type Artificial
Primary inflows Georges River
Basin countries Australia
Max. length 1 km (0.62 mi)
Surface elevation 0 m (0 ft) AMSL
Frozen never
Islands 4
Settlements City of Liverpool

Chipping Norton Lake is a lake located at Chipping Norton, New South Wales. It is a part of the Georges River system. Chipping Norton Lake is managed by Liverpool City Council and is an artificial lake.[1] The lake is an important recreational area for Liverpool, Canterbury-Bankstown Council and Fairfield City Council.

History

The Chipping Norton Lake area was inhabited by the Tharawal and Darug people before European settlement. The land surrounding Georges River (there was no lake at that time) was given to Thomas Moore, an early settler and carpenter for the colony. He established farmland around the river. In the 1950s, sand was mined around the lake area. The mining caused irreversible environmental destruction, and the area remained lifeless after the sand was mined. Finally, a decision was made to flood the mine, leaving a large lake. Vegetation was planted around the lake to make a wildlife reserve.[2]

Natural Environment

There are over 50 different kinds of birds around the lake. The City of Liverpool, City of Bankstown and the City of Fairfield work together to manage the wildlife refuge and recreation areas of Chipping Norton Lake. There are four islands within the lake. They are wildlife refuges for native birds and visitor access is prohibited. Bull sharks have been sighted in the lake.[3]

Recreation

View of the beach and Ascot Point

Chipping Norton Lake has a regional park located on Homestead Avenue, providing cycleways, barbecue facilities, picnic areas, playground equipment, boat ramps, sporting fields and the Georges River Environment Education Centre. There is also a beach in the lake called Grand Flaneur Beach at Homestead Park. Although swimming is permitted at the beach, it is not recommended because of poor water quality. The Chipping Norton Lake also have a number of walkways.[1]

Watercraft are permitted on Chipping Norton Lake. however, a strict speed limit of eight knots applies. The Lake also features a community hall that can be hired by residents or community groups for birthday parties, christenings, barmitzvahs, weddings or any other type of function. The hall can accommodate up to 100 people and has an upstairs balcony with views across the lake and surrounding parkland.

Parks

The lake is surrounded by a number of parks, recreational areas and/or reserves:

East side:

  • Henry Lawson Reserve
  • Flinders Slopes
  • Lake Gillawarna
  • Rowley Park
  • Garrison Point Reserve
  • Liverpool Golf Club
  • Georges River Golf Course

West side:

  • Irelands Bridge Reserve
  • South Park
  • Angle Park
  • Homestead Park
  • Black Muscat Park
  • Heron Park
  • Riverside Park

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Chipping Norton Lake Brochure (PDF). Liverpool City Council. 2006.
  2. Christopher Tobin. "The Dharug Story". Mananura Aboriginal Centre. Archived from the original on 13 October 2008. Retrieved 18 May 2008.
  3. Three shark sightings in a month at Chipping Norton Lake
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