New Petition Urges Council To Return Stolen “Newtown Forest”

A new change.org petition has been created to bring back so-called “Newtown Forest”. The improvised guerilla garden, which had occupied an unused concrete traffic island in the intersection of King Street and Enmore Road in Newtown, was removed by Transport for NSW late last week, and locals aren’t happy.

The garden had been an “imagination exercise” undertaken by local community group K Shift, member Nic Lowe told ABC News. It had included eight pots and eight bathtubs of plants, including about 50 aloe veras. According to Transport for NSW, it had posed a safety risk, obscuring driver vision and inviting pedestrians to visit a median strip not designed for pedestrian traffic.

But Locals Don’t Just Want Their Garden Back, They Want A Real Newtown Forest

While the petition’s title suggests signatories are looking to have the confiscated garden returned, its demands are far more impressive. Rather than have their humble collection of “safety hazards” returned to the traffic island, Project K Shift are now calling for a green revitalisation of the entire surrounds.

“King Street and Enmore Road are the heart of our community,” the official petition states, “but they’re dominated by concrete and asphalt. Limited shade, minimal greenery, and streets designed primarily for vehicles make the area hotter, less comfortable to walk or cycle, and leave few places for people to stop, rest, and connect.”

Among the petition’s demands are a request for wider footpaths and improved cycling infrastructure, as well as more public leisure and seating spaces, canopy cover, rain gardens, and native plants.

“Greener streets are cooler, healthier, and more resilient,” the petition reads. “They improve biodiversity, reduce urban heat, encourage walking and cycling, and create vibrant public spaces where people want to spend time. Cities around the world have shown that transforming streets into destinations can increase foot traffic, strengthen local businesses, and build stronger communities.

“King Street and Enmore Road deserve to be more than a traffic sewer; they should be thriving public spaces that reflect the creativity, diversity, and community spirit of our neighborhood.”