Expected funding for the Iron Cove to Cooks River greenway has not been included in the state government’s September 6 budget.
“When Labor announed the greenway, we said it required further investigation before it could be supported,” Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian said in a media release. “That work has shown that the project is not in the best interest of the commuters or taxpayers at this time.”
Beyond the media release, which cites a $7 million cost increase from the Labor Government’s estimate of $30 million for the project, there was no further comment from Berejiklian’s office about the issue’s deferment. The light rail extension planned for the same corridor will go ahead despite a cost increase of $56 million from the Labor Government’s estimate of $120 million.
The greenway would be a five kilometre nature thoroughfare through Leichhardt, Haberfield, Summer Hill, Lewisham and Dulwich Hill. A disused freight line follows the course most of the way, and there are several bushcare sites to protect wildlife along it.
The greenway and the light rail extension were originally intended to be built together. Their separation has drawn public criticism from the mayors of Marrickville, Leichhardt, Ashfield and Canterbury.
“Constructing the greenway after the light rail is not cost-effective,” said Leichhardt Mayor Rochelle Porteous. “Constructing a path next to an operating light rail service will be more expensive.”
Member of Friends of the Greenway, Geoff Pollard said there is a “sense of deflation” about the decision.
He said that the battle to have the greenway built will continue, and that the community is more responsive to it.
“They’re now ready to fight for something they believe they’re losing,” he said.
MPs Carmel Tebbutt and Linda Burney, who represent the electorates of Marrickville and Canterbury respectively have begun a petition to collect 10,000 handwritten signatures, which would force the state government to debate the issue.
Currently, the MPs have collected more than 4000 signatures.
The petition is available from both Marrickville and Canterbury electorate offices.
