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NEWS
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Group Calls for Extension of Light Rail
In collaboration with local residents, the public transport advocacy group EcoTransit Sydney has launched a campaign to have the GreenWay and light rail extension placed at the top of the NSW Government's transport agenda. In May 2008, Ecotranit News, a 4 page colour tabloid was distributed in the communities along the corridor, and at bus and light rail stops, and train stations in the Marrickville, Leichhardt and City of Sydney Local Government Areas.
'Escalating petrol prices are putting pressure on Sydney's overburdened public transport system. Extending the existing light rail line in this area is a simple, quick, and extremely cost-effective way to make a significant difference,' said EcoTransit spokesperson Leah Mason.
Friends member Bruce Ashley is quoted in the publication as saying: "The combination of light rail and the Cooks River to Iron Cove GreenWay trail in the freight line corridor would be a very important outcome for the Inner West, both in terms of sustainable transport and biodiversity". A follow-up 2nd edition was distributed in September.
But the devil is always in the detail. If both tracks are used all the way from Lilyfield to Dulwich Hill for light rail it would have an adverse impact on the GreenWay vision (and a possible pathway link to Anzac Bridge) becasue for most of the corridor, the only really feasible way in which the GreenWay Trail, a bush corridor and the light rail could be contained within the same corridor is if the railway formation is shared, with light rail services being run on a single track and with passing loops provided to maintain service frequency. We will keep you posted on any developments on this story
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GreenWay awarded $1.83m Grant
Some great funding news! The GreenWay has just been awarded a $1.83M NSW Environmental Trust grant through the NSW Environmental Trust Urban Sustainability (Major Projects Program) for the Cooks River to Iron Cove GreenWay "Making Sustainability Work" Project. The objective of the project is for the GreenWay to be a best practice model for sustainability. The grant was one of only 10 awarded from 65 applications from across NSW. You can see news of the grant success in the local media:
"Greenway success" - Inner West Courier Tuesday 12th February, p.9
"Greenway project a big step forward" - Valley Times Thursday 14th February, p.3
"Plans step up for a greener inner west" - The Glebe Thursday 28th February, p.9
"$1.83M Grant funding success for Greenway" Media Release - Ashfield Council, Friday 1st February
According to Ashfield Mayor, Ted Cassidy the focus of the Cooks River to Iron Cove GreenWay "Making Sustainability Work" is the development of a best practice model for sustainable management of a public asset - a Greenway - linking the Cooks River and Iron Cove. He said the aim is to create a corridor providing a habitat for biodiversity, alternative transport options and a focus for community involvement. This Project will include the development of long-term management guidelines for flora and fauna in the corridor to improve and enhance biodiversity, with an emphasis on providing a habitat for the recently discovered colony of Long Nosed Bandicoot. (from Ashfield Council Media Release, 1/2/08)
Further web site updates on this grant include the detailed project business plan which has just been approved by the Environmental Trust. The grant will run for three years, and will involve the four Councils, NGOs, State Agencies and key community groups (such as Friends) in a collaborative capacity. Please email to friends@greenway.org.au if you would like to participate in the Making Sustainability Work project.
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Friends of the GreenWay now Active!
There has been a lot of progress behind the scenes since the first full meeting of the Friends of the Greenway group in December 2007. This was the Friends' first formal meeting, and the proposal to form an incorporated association was put to the meeting and there was unanimous agreement for this. The meeting then elected a committee consisting of:
- Convenor: Jud Agius
- Secretary: Greg Stonehouse
- Treasurer: Claire Sives
- Committee Members: Bruce Ashley, Sam Byrne, Tim Collins, Mary Hawkins, Geoff Hyde, and Mark Marusic
Since the December meeting Friends have now become an Incorporated Association, and the Committee has met on 12 occassions to progress the group's aims and objectives, and to plan for events later inthe year.
A second fuill meeting of the group was held on Saturday 19th October at SHARE in Summer Hill. Twenty four existing and new members attended the meting whic agreed on a manifesto for the group, heard presentations on the status of key projects, and determined future tasks. The full committee was relected for another 12month period, with executive positions filled as fllows: Jud Agius (Convenore), Greg Stonehouse (Secretary), Treasurer (vacant), and committee members: Bruce Ashley, Sam Byrne, Tim Collins, Mary Hawkins, Geoff Hyde, Mark Marusic and Dierdre O'Sullivan.
To contact any of the committee members, please email to friends@greenway.org.au and include the name of the particular committee member in the Subject field.
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Friends stall at the Dulwich Hill Street Fair
"Friends of the GreenWay" had a stall at the 2007 Dulwich Hill Street Fair to promote the GreenWay to the local community and let people know what is happening in the corridor. Four Friends of the GreenWay volunteers staffed the stall throughout the day and providing up-to-date information on the GreenWay vision, provided handouts and flyers, displayed a large map showing what's happening, and had packets. Information on the various environment and community groups that are active in the greenway corridor was also provided.
Following this successful stall, the Friends had a stall at the Cooks River Festival. Unfortunately storm clouds gathered just as the crowd was, and the thunderstorm drove many from the event, but not before quite a number of people found out about Friends and committed to get involved.
If you would like to help the Friends at the upcoming Dulwich Hill Street Fair on Sunday 7 December, please email to friends@greenway.org.au
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Have You Seen a Long-nosed Bandicoot lately?
As reported previously , Long-nosed Bandicoots (Perameles nasuta) have been seen in the along and adjacent to the GreenWay corridor. So far there have been about 13 sightings - either of live animals, or dead ones. The trouble is the sightings are so infrequent, that the picture is still unclear as to where they are located, where they feed and travel to, and how big the population is. We need to bring together all of the available information so that we can best ensure their tenuous hold in the urban areas is secured.
If you have any significant or unusual sightings or more information regarding the Long-nosed Bandicoots, or other animals in the corridor (either native or introduced), please send an email to: admin@greenway.org.au
More information and downloads on the Long-Nosed Bandicoot:
Refer also to articles in:
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