Reflections Holidays withdrew from its partnership with Maitland City Council in May 2024.

In February 2025, Maitland City Council was informed that the $10M in funding through the Regional Tourism Activation Fund was withdrawn by the NSW Government’s Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development as a result of the project scope no longer including an accommodation element.

The draft Plan of Management was on public exhibition until 7 March 2026.

The Plan of Management:

• Sets the long-term vision, principles, and objectives for Walka

• Establishes a management framework to guide future decisions

• Supports protection of ecological, cultural and heritage values

• Lists allowable uses under the Crown Land management framework (allowable does not mean approved or intended).

The Plan of Management does not:

• Approve any project, development, or commercial activity

• Provide final designs, budgets, or delivery timeframes

• Replace future investigations, consultation, or approvals.

Officers will review and collate all feedback received.

We will then assess submissions and determine what changes, if any, are required to the draft Plan of Management.

If any non-minor changes are proposed following exhibition, the updated Plan of Management will need to be resubmitted to the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (Crown Lands) for review and consent prior to Council adoption.

A report will then be prepared for the elected Council to consider adoption of the Plan of Management that has been endorsed by Crown Lands.

The report may also outline indicative implementation considerations, such as high-level project prioritisation. This can inform future planning and capital works considerations but does not commit funding or confirm sequencing.

Any future project would be progressed separately and assessed to determine the applicable approvals, investigations and consultation required for that specific scope of works.

The Walka Water Works Community Liaison Group (CLG) was first established to allow for two-way communication and engagement between Council, its partners in the works and representatives of the Maitland community throughout the redevelopment of Walka Water Works.

The purpose of the CLG is not to be a decision-making body of Council. The CLG forms an important part of Council’s community engagement around the works, with members encouraged to share the knowledge they gain with the wider community.

At the same time, Council will continue to offer wider engagement opportunities to the broader community, which CLG members are encouraged to promote and participate in.

The minutes of recent meetings can be viewed in the documents section on the Walka Water Works project page

Any future proposal would require relevant technical studies, further community consultation, and the applicable planning, environmental and heritage approvals. If a proposal cannot meet these requirements, it would not progress.