Inner West residents will soon be able to walk or cycle between the Cooks River and the Bay Run, with the final stages of the GreenWay project starting construction this week in Dulwich Hill.
Works have begun to build a tunnel to run under Constitution Road from Johnson Park and join the light rail corridor.
Three tunnels will be built as part of the dream to bring to life the Cooks to Cove GreenWay – a biodiversity corridor from the Cooks River at Earlwood to the Parramatta River at Iron Cove.
The 5.6 kilometre active transport pathway links the Inner West from north to south, running mainly alongside the Inner West light rail line.
Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne said: “Our community has been fighting to make the Greenway a reality for many decades now.
“We finally have a partnership between the New South Wales Government and the Inner West Council that will see the Greenway completed by 2025.
“We’ve been working hard to improve the Bay Run and create all of the northern and southern links of the Greenway. This is the missing middle connection that will create a continuous corridor and bring the vision to life.”
Byrne was speaking at the official launch of the tunnelling works, alongside Minister for Transport and Member for Summer Hill, Jo Haylen, and Planning Minister Paul Scully.
The in-corridor works will include:
• Upgrade of Johnson Park including an upgraded path and playground (begin 2024)
• Tunnel under Constitution Road from Johnson Park into the light rail corridor (bridge reopens February 2024)
• New raised path from Constitution Road tunnel along light rail and under New Canterbury Road (completion 2025)
• Removal of invasive non-native flora and revegetation (native species and trees)
• Installation of new solar smart path lights
• Installation of public art in tunnel
Minister for Transport and Member for Summer Hill Jo Haylen said: “This project has been a long time coming and follows years of campaigning from locals, including the Friends of the GreenWay group, Prime Minister Albanese and Linda Burney.
“The inner west is already one of the best places to walk and cycle, and this provides the missing link between some of Sydney’s most beautiful public spaces.
“I can’t wait for this project to be completed and look forward to seeing it connect to other walkways and cycleways as this government delivers more funding for active transport projects across the inner west and NSW.”
Council is delivering the in-corridor works with funding support of $33 million from Transport for NSW and the Department of Planning and Environment, as part of the NSW Government’s Get NSW Active program, the Parramatta Road Urban Amenity Improvement Program and the NSW Public Spaces Legacy program.
Inner West Council is contributing nearly $10 million toward the project.
Planning Minister Paul Scully said: “I’m pleased the project will be finished after the Labor Party pushed hard before the election to secure the funding.
“This $42 million investment will increase security and be a long-term community asset for people using the links between Iron Cove and Cooks River.”
This final stage of construction includes two areas running from north of Parramatta Road at Leichhardt to south of Old Canterbury Road, Dulwich Hill (due for completion 2025) and the southern link which runs from Weston Street to Hercules Street at Dulwich Hill.
Other main in-corridor missing links works include:
– A new path and upgraded natural areas in Gadigal Reserve
– A microbat friendly tunnel under Longport Street
– A new path, parklands and natural areas in the light rail corridor near Lewisham West
– A signalised crossing at Old Canterbury Road including the closure of Weston Street to cars
– A tunnel under Davis Street and a new boardwalk from Davis Street to Johnson Park
– A new path and upgraded natural areas in the light rail corridor near Hercules Street with the existing natural creek line retained and protected
The GreenWay corridor features cultural and historical sites, parks, cafes and playgrounds and has come about after years of campaigning from local residents and community leaders.
Inner West Council completed the first phase of works including a path and lighting upgrade at Richard Murden Reserve, improved active transport facilities at Dulwich Hill and most recently, the official opening of the Bay Run Pathway and Lighting Upgrade.
The GreenWay Masterplan was adopted by Inner West Council in 2018 after extensive community consultation. The concept designs were then developed and placed on exhibition for further feedback in 2019.
For all the latest details on the GreenWay visit: innerwest.nsw.gov.au/Greenway
