Residents baffled by stalled 10-year plan
Community advocates will lead a rally against the state government’s freeze on the development of a green corridor between Leichhardt and Marrickville this Saturday.
The decade-long battle to extend Leichhardt’s parkland from the Bay Run to the Iron Cove Bridge and the Cooks River, known as the GreenWay, has been halted by the state government. Residents and local councillors will hold a rally at noon on Saturday in Dulwich Hill’s Johnson Park to raise awareness.
Shadow minister for planning, infrastructure and heritage Linda Burney MP said the community has fought for this open space. “It’s a real tragedy that the community has worked so hard [for this] with the local government for over ten years.”
“It’s my view that government has just walked away from a very important community issue.”
Member for Balmain, councillor Jamie Parker said the deferral will be costly in the long run. “The government is claiming the project was originally under-budgeted but the reality is that failing to co-construct the light rail and the GreenWay construction will greatly increase costs.”
Ms Burney said the Minister for Transport’s claim of unrealistic cost estimates set by the previous government would soon wear thin. “The GreenWay was incorporated into the building of the light rail. It was fully funded. They didn’t have to find the money. The treasury had made a funding commitment.”
Dulwich Hill resident and community advocate Bruce Ashley first helped design the GreenWay development 11 years ago.
He said he wants to see an end to the drawn-out process. “To end the politicking and get on with it. There isn’t a willingness to pursue what the community is after, instead there’s more interest in high-profile projects especially with a public transport ring to it.”
Ms Burney said: “The concept was identified by the communities across the Inner West. Its benefits include reducing the amount of carbon to keeping people fit and healthy. It’s also very important environmentally.”
Mr Ashley said the government could explore other means and cost-cutting strategies. “They’re using construction difficulties as an excuse to push the money elsewhere.”
“The current government professes to support the GreenWay but there’s nothing stopping them.”
The GreenWay’s projected price tag is $37 million. “Surely you could deliver it in a more cost-effective way,” he said.
Developing both projects simultaneously would be ideal but Mr Ashley believes the community would favour the GreenWay over the light rail, if they had to choose.
“People can see the value in commuting, exercising and getting into that quality open space at the corridor.”
The park along Hawthorne Canal in Leichhardt provides an off-leash dog park, pet-friendly café and a link to the Bay Run. But this open space ends abruptly at the train tracks in Lewisham.
Ms Burney is drumming up support at community gatherings.
“I have started a petition for 10,000 signatures … I don’t have them all yet but I’ve already begun collections at the Marrickville and Summer Hill festivals over the weekend.” She plans to present the petition at the first session of parliament next year.
BY Deborah Erwin
