Extension for light rail ‘welcomed’
The State Government has moved forward with the long-anticipated inner west light rail extension, with Premier Kristina Keneally confirming work on the project would begin by December and be completed within two years.
The extension will stretch across an additional nine stops, located at Leichhardt North, Hawthorne, Marion, Taverners Hill, Lewisham West, Waratah Mills, Arlington, and Dulwich Grove, plus an interchange at Dulwich Hill.
The extension of the light rail will set up key transport interchanges with the heavy rail lines, for both the inner west line (at Lewisham) and the Bankstown line (at Dulwich Hill).
“Marrickville Council believes that this extension of the Light Rail from Lilyfield to Dulwich Hill will ease traffic congestion and make life easier for many people in our local government area,” said Marrickville Mayor Sam Iskandar.
The council also welcomed the announcement that walking and cycling paths would be included in the light rail corridor as part of the ‘Greenway’, along with a number of bushcare sites.
According to Ms Keneally, the GreenWay represents a first for the city, and ensures the corridor “has a mixed use for families, commuters, cyclists, walkers and joggers.”
The Premier said the government wanted to ensure the corridor could benefit the whole community with the incorporation of a cycling and walking path, as well as retaining critical bushcare sites along the extension. “People will be able to walk or cycle from the Cooks River to Iron Cove, through Canterbury, Marrickville, Ashfield and Leichhardt Council areas,” she said.
