Walkways still a worry
BY SHANT FABRICATORIAN
Despite concerns more than six months ago, improvements to pedestrian walkways outside Queens Park remain in a state of limbo.
In April last year, the Bondi View reported on improvements to entrances to Queens Park, which included significant spending on a road inside the park, new steps, and a cycleway. However, at the time residents noted their concern that the entrances themselves ‘ three on the southern side of Queens Park Road and one on Baronga Avenue ‘ remained linked by dirt tracks rather than paved footpaths, citing issues with safety and the ease with which the path could be traversed.
Nearly a year later, and with a new council administration in place, there remains no official commitment to the footpath upgrade aside from an assurance that the matter remains under consideration.
In April, then Waverley Mayor Ingrid Strewe noted that opinion was divided on whether there should be more paved pathways in the Queens Park area.
But resident Chris O’Sullivan said this week that the case for the upgrade enjoyed broad support.
‘Quite a lot of people are concerned,’ he said. ‘We need a footpath from Bourke Street into Baronga Avenue. It’s very busy, especially for school children, and particularly in bad weather it’s rough, muddy and bumpy. You can’t push a pram, wheelchair or stroller down there.’
Mr O’Sullivan also highlighted safety concerns. ‘There’s large buses going down there. If you park at the top of Queens Park Road, you need to walk down this rough old track, or on the road itself, as a lot of students do. The [Centennial Park and Moore Park] Trust says they’re going to extend the road inside the park but the issue is outside the entrances,’ he said.
‘There has been talk about the issue for some time ‘ we raised it at a meeting with the new mayor Sally Betts,’ he added. ‘Even some council workers say we should be putting something down as it’s not safe.’
Councillor Betts said the matter was under consideration by the council. ‘We have a Director of Recreation and Community Services, Meredith Wallace, who looks after that ‘ she is certainly aware of it and it’s certainly on the agenda,’ she said.
