Case Studies
The GreenWay
Design Feature
Type of project
Local Government Initiative
State
New South Wales
Location
Urban
The GreenWay is a 5.8-kilometre sustainable transport and urban environmental corridor in Sydney’s Inner West, linking the Parramatta River at Iron Cove to the Cooks River at Earlwood. Recognised by the Greater Sydney Commission as a best practice example of the NSW Governments Green Grid strategy in action, it contains a network of footpaths, cycleways, parks, playgrounds, bush care sites, cafes, public art and community facilities enjoyed daily by thousands of residents and visitors. The GreenWay also contains Hawthorne Canal and the Inner West Light Rail.
Evolving community aspirations
The award-winning GreenWay was originally conceived by the Inner West community in the late 1990’s and has been driven by the community in collaboration with four (now two) Inner West councils over the past 15 years.
The community developed the vision for a multi-purpose GreenWay corridor and wrote the GreenWay Masterplan and Coordination Strategy which was exhibited and adopted by the GreenWay councils in 2009. The Masterplan continues to influence how the program is managed at a strategic and operational level.
The community developed the vision for a multi-purpose GreenWay corridor and wrote the GreenWay Masterplan and Coordination Strategy which was exhibited and adopted by the GreenWay councils in 2009. The Masterplan continues to influence how the program is managed at a strategic and operational level.
The GreenWay runs through a densely populated inner city area and is a valuable resource for maintaining an active and healthy urban lifestyle. Currently, more than 48,000 people live within the GreenWay corridor catchment. This population is expected to increase significantly, as an additional 14,000 to 18,000 dwellings are to be built along the corridor in the next 25 years.
A key focus is the provision of a safe, attractive, vibrant inner-city environment for existing and new residents in a rapidly growing inner-city region. The GreenWay Program continues to develop in response to evolving community aspirations, and comprises five main elements outlined in a _GreenWay Memorandum of Understanding 2014 – 2019_ signed by the four councils.
GreenWay principles:
1. **Urban bush care **- On-going establishment and maintenance of 16 urban bush care sites which are maintained by community volunteers and council bush care/biodiversity specialists.
2. **Sustainable transport** - Planning, funding and construction of the remaining 50% of the GreenWay Trail (3.2-kilometre shared path), from Parramatta Road south to the Cooks River.
3. **Place making and management** - Planning, upgrading and managing key places along the GreenWay to improve liveability, reduce car dependency, promote active travel and enhance community connections, with a focus on the light rail stops.
4. **Sustainability education** - Using the GreenWay as an outdoor classroom to teach primary, secondary and tertiary students about urban sustainability challenges in the 21st century.
5. **Arts and culture - **Celebrating the natural and cultural qualities of the GreenWay through art and community culture.
The NSW State Government has periodically provided some funding for GreenWay projects in recognition of its strategic significance as a major sustainable transport and urban environmental corridor in a rapidly growing part of Sydney. The program has been strongly supported by the councils and community in times of political and funding uncertainty. Changes in government and the instability in funding commitments which accompany these politics upheavals have been a major obstacle for the project. The community overcame this instability through grass roots campaigns and petition, and in 2016 the NSW state government and Inner West Council jointly funded the cost of completing the GreenWay.
1. **Urban bush care **- On-going establishment and maintenance of 16 urban bush care sites which are maintained by community volunteers and council bush care/biodiversity specialists.
2. **Sustainable transport** - Planning, funding and construction of the remaining 50% of the GreenWay Trail (3.2-kilometre shared path), from Parramatta Road south to the Cooks River.
3. **Place making and management** - Planning, upgrading and managing key places along the GreenWay to improve liveability, reduce car dependency, promote active travel and enhance community connections, with a focus on the light rail stops.
4. **Sustainability education** - Using the GreenWay as an outdoor classroom to teach primary, secondary and tertiary students about urban sustainability challenges in the 21st century.
5. **Arts and culture - **Celebrating the natural and cultural qualities of the GreenWay through art and community culture.
The NSW State Government has periodically provided some funding for GreenWay projects in recognition of its strategic significance as a major sustainable transport and urban environmental corridor in a rapidly growing part of Sydney. The program has been strongly supported by the councils and community in times of political and funding uncertainty. Changes in government and the instability in funding commitments which accompany these politics upheavals have been a major obstacle for the project. The community overcame this instability through grass roots campaigns and petition, and in 2016 the NSW state government and Inner West Council jointly funded the cost of completing the GreenWay.
Project team
- Volunteers and Inner-City Residents
- Inner West Council and the City of Canterbury Bankstown staff
- New South Wales State Government, various departments
- GreenWay Place Manager and Project Manager GreenWay Delivery
- Various design and construction teams engaged to deliver elements of the Missing Links construction program.
Health value
The GreenWay corridor provides the Inner West population with accessible and free opportunities to engage in many different physical activities ranging from running, walking, dog walking and children’s play areas to formal recreation and sports facilities such as netball courts and sports ovals.
The existing shared path is highly utilised by both recreational and commuter riders and walkers. The number of cyclists is expected to increase significantly when the full 5.8-kilometre GreenWay is completed in 2021. This project will complete a major missing link in the Inner Sydney Regional Cycle Network, and provide direct access to nine light rail stops and two major regional heavy rail lines, providing further opportunities for active and mixed modal transport.
In addition to active travel benefits, the walking track and bush care sites provide residents with the opportunity to engage in leisure time physical activity.
The existing shared path is highly utilised by both recreational and commuter riders and walkers. The number of cyclists is expected to increase significantly when the full 5.8-kilometre GreenWay is completed in 2021. This project will complete a major missing link in the Inner Sydney Regional Cycle Network, and provide direct access to nine light rail stops and two major regional heavy rail lines, providing further opportunities for active and mixed modal transport.
In addition to active travel benefits, the walking track and bush care sites provide residents with the opportunity to engage in leisure time physical activity.
Economic value
In 2016 SGS economics was commisioned to conducte the _Stage 1: GreenWay Cost Benefit Analysis_, which found that the GreenWay:
In addition to these findings, the GreenWay also provides economic value in direct transport improvements and associated time travel savings; and a more sustainable and resilient transport network.
- Provides a high amenity corridor to support and attract housing density, knowledge jobs and creative industries employment
- Makes development opportunities more appealing and relieves pressure from other existing infrastructure
- Provides synergistic benefit of the new light rail line and the GreenWay.
In addition to these findings, the GreenWay also provides economic value in direct transport improvements and associated time travel savings; and a more sustainable and resilient transport network.
Environmental value
GreenWay urban bush care activities continue to enhance its role as a vital urban biodiversity corridor linking two of Sydney’s major water ways – Parramatta River and Cooks River. It is a significant vegetated corridor in a high density urban area and provides valuable tree canopy and urban bushland to help combat urban warming.
GreenWay contains the Inner West Light Rail and a network of cycling and walking tracks, which increases active transport and physical activity opportunities in the Inner West and helps reduce car dependency, with a consequent reduction in local vehicle pollution, carbon emissions and congestion.
For over a decade, the complementary GreenWay Program has been developing a range of primary, secondary and tertiary education resources which use the corridor as an ‘outdoor classroom’ to teach city students about urban sustainability issues and challenges in the 21st century. There are 35 schools within the GreenWay corridor/catchment, with a total population of 16,750 students, including 22 primary schools.
The award-winning GreenWay Primary Schools Sustainability Program has been developed over 10 years and is now recommended by the NSW Dept. Education as a best practice teaching resource for the stage 2 Geography curriculum.
GreenWay contains the Inner West Light Rail and a network of cycling and walking tracks, which increases active transport and physical activity opportunities in the Inner West and helps reduce car dependency, with a consequent reduction in local vehicle pollution, carbon emissions and congestion.
For over a decade, the complementary GreenWay Program has been developing a range of primary, secondary and tertiary education resources which use the corridor as an ‘outdoor classroom’ to teach city students about urban sustainability issues and challenges in the 21st century. There are 35 schools within the GreenWay corridor/catchment, with a total population of 16,750 students, including 22 primary schools.
The award-winning GreenWay Primary Schools Sustainability Program has been developed over 10 years and is now recommended by the NSW Dept. Education as a best practice teaching resource for the stage 2 Geography curriculum.
Social value
Every weekend, the GreenWay’s parks and playgrounds are used for a variety of informal gatherings, children’s parties and other social occasions. The GreenWay provides a range of opportunities for community connections and social engagement. The corridor passes through several high-density development areas and connects residents with a range of popular amenities.
The GreenWay also provides cultural value through the opportunities for residents and visitors to explore public art along the GreenWay and contribute directly to the production of art works associated with the GreenWay. The GreenWay is known for its murals and street art, including the Hawthorne Canal Community Art work which won the 2012 Local Government and Shires Association _Public Art and Place Making Award_.
Additionally, “_Art on the GreenWay_” is an annual series of commissioned, temporary environmental art works installed at the northern end of the GreenWay as part of the Inner West Open Studio Trail. In 2017, the GreenWay Art Exhibition celebrated its 8th year by offering a selection of prizes with a total value of $10,000 for paintings, photographs and sculptures which celebrate the cultural and environmental qualities of the GreenWay. In 2017 the Greenway Art Exhibition toured to established art galleries in Leichhardt, Dulwich Hill and Bankstown.
The GreenWay also provides cultural value through the opportunities for residents and visitors to explore public art along the GreenWay and contribute directly to the production of art works associated with the GreenWay. The GreenWay is known for its murals and street art, including the Hawthorne Canal Community Art work which won the 2012 Local Government and Shires Association _Public Art and Place Making Award_.
Additionally, “_Art on the GreenWay_” is an annual series of commissioned, temporary environmental art works installed at the northern end of the GreenWay as part of the Inner West Open Studio Trail. In 2017, the GreenWay Art Exhibition celebrated its 8th year by offering a selection of prizes with a total value of $10,000 for paintings, photographs and sculptures which celebrate the cultural and environmental qualities of the GreenWay. In 2017 the Greenway Art Exhibition toured to established art galleries in Leichhardt, Dulwich Hill and Bankstown.
Use value
The GreenWay connects Inner West residents and visitors with public transport, off road shared paths and amenities ranging from the largest off-leash dog park in the Inner West and the largest Inner West community soccer club to historic Hawthorne Canal and Arlington Reserve, which hosted the Women’s Athletics in the 1938 British Empire Games.
The corridor’s value lies not only in its ability to facilitate connected transport to the user’s destination, but the many opportunities which it provides for residents and visitors to walk, run or cycle along vegetated corridors and a series of connected open spaces in an increasingly developed inner city area.
The corridor contains many items of heritage significance including Mungo Scott Flour Mill and Battle Bridge. It is regularly used for guided walks, bike rides, film shoots and cultural events such as the Dogs Big Day Out and the NSW ‘Koori Knockout’ Rugby League Competition.
The corridor’s value lies not only in its ability to facilitate connected transport to the user’s destination, but the many opportunities which it provides for residents and visitors to walk, run or cycle along vegetated corridors and a series of connected open spaces in an increasingly developed inner city area.
The corridor contains many items of heritage significance including Mungo Scott Flour Mill and Battle Bridge. It is regularly used for guided walks, bike rides, film shoots and cultural events such as the Dogs Big Day Out and the NSW ‘Koori Knockout’ Rugby League Competition.
References
GreenWay dashboard - measuring active travel rates on an easy-to-use dashboard called ‘Map Story’
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