The draft GreenWay masterplan for the much-desired linear corridor spanning the 5.8km distance from Cooks River to Iron Cove was released recently. This follows a 10-year campaign for the corridor by local communities and GreenWay councils.
The project sets out a unique, integrated, place-based approach combining the four main functions of the GreenWay – active travel, ecology, recreation and culture – in each of the six precincts along the corridor.
The GreenWay will follow the route of the Inner West Light Rail, and feature bike paths and foreshore walks, cultural and historical sites, public art, community events, cafes and bushcare sites as well as parks, playgrounds and sporting facilities.
Created using community input, the draft plan has allocated $57 million for staged works, with around $25 million in state and local government funding already committed to priority works due for completion by 2022.
The project will encompass more than 4ha of revegetation and bank naturalisation, improvements to existing and newly accessible public open spaces, a new bridge over the Cooks River, safer crossings on major roads, and the completion of the remaining 3.2km of the walking and cycling path from Parramatta Road south to the Cooks River cycleway at Earlwood.
Additional works outlined in the draft plan will be delivered in a staged manner over the next 10 to 15 years, as more funding becomes available.
A continuous shared path is proposed along most of the corridor, including a new lightweight pedestrian and cycle bridge under Parramatta Road and a tunnel under the busy Longport Street.
In line with the vision of the Government Architect’s office NSW for a 'green grid' network throughout the Sydney Metropolitan area, the Greater Sydney Commission has identified the GreenWay as the number one priority Green Grid project in the Eastern City District Plan.
The 2018 GreenWay Master Plan is expected to be adopted by Inner West Council in August. The draft plan is available online for community comments until 24 June 2018.
