The upcoming parliamentary debate is an important opportunity to reverse the state government’s decision to defer the GreenWay project.
Friends of the GreenWay spokesperson Jud Agius said: “If they don’t do that they will never build it.”
The state government’s deferral of the GreenWay, a five-kilometre walking and cycling path between Sydney Harbour and the Cooks River, has caused an uproar in the Inner West community, with more than 10,000 people signing the petition and calling for it to be built.
Mr Agius said the debate is a chance to push the O’Farrell government to go ahead with the project.
“The GreenWay is a no-brainer and we will keep pressure up,” he said.
In a recent media release, Mayor of Marrickville Morris Hanna said that regardless of the “inadequate and meagre 16 minutes to debate”, the petition demonstrates that local MPs and residents are eager to continue the fight for an environmental passage.
“We are undeterred by the NSW Government’s decision to defer the project,” Mr Hanna said.
The GreenWay was supposed to be built in conjunction with the inner west light rail extension, but according to the state transport minister Gladys Berejiklian, high cost and unresolved design issues caused a delay in the project.
Ms Berejiklian said the government is committed to the light rail extension and “will continue to investigate the best way [to] deliver the extension to the Inner West.”
But the GreenWay needs proper planning.
Friends of the GreenWay treasurer, Jennifer Kent, disagreed with the minister.
“There has been 10 years of planning of the GreenWay, and to say that it’s going to be expensive… Well it’s going to cost more to build them separately.”
Ms Kent said the state government’s way of approaching the project has not been very impressive.
“We have sent out letters [to the state government], but they have never responded.
“The bottom line is that we want a definite commitment and a timeline,” she said.
The debate will be held today (May 31) at the NSW Parliament.
Participants are advised to show up at 4:15pm for a 4:30pm start.
Members of the Friends of the GreenWay are urging locals, parents with school-children, walkers and cyclists in Sydney to attend the debate and show support to the project.
By Susan Moozar
