Anthony Roberts Minister for Planning Minister for Housing Special Minister of State

MEDIA RELEASE

Wednesday June 28 2017

GRANTS TO DELIVER GREAT SPACES IN SYDNEY AND CENTRAL

COAST

Minister for Planning and Minister for Housing, Anthony Roberts, today announced a record $4 million in NSW Government funding for 19 projects to enhance parks, waterways and public spaces across Sydney and in Terrigal.

Mr Roberts announced the recipients of the Metropolitan Greenspace Program Grants at the opening of a $1.4 million-dollar shared pathway, at Gannons Park in Peakhurst.

“This tremendous facility for active pursuits and enhancing the local area not only was a recipient of a 2015 and 2016 Metropolitan Greenspace Program grants, but it is one of the recipients of funding in the 2017 round I am delighted to be announcing today,” Mr Roberts said.

The Metropolitan Greenspace Program, administered by the Greater Sydney Commission, attracted 34 Council submissions, with 19 winning grants, which are provided on a dollar-for-dollar basis.

“The program supports local councils in Greater Sydney and the Central Coast to improve regional open space by co-funding projects that enhance open spaces, parks, bushland, natural areas, waterway corridors and tree-lined streetscapes,” Mr Roberts said.

“The $4 million is the highest funding in the history of the program and this demonstrates the NSW Government’s commitment to delivering on the open space needs of our communities.

“The Metropolitan Greenspace Program is the longest running grants program in Sydney and since 1990, more than $43 million has been provided over 620 projects. This year, the NSW Government is pleased to have increased funding for this round of grants by an additional $1 million.

“These projects will kick-start the creation of important connections in the Green Grid across Sydney and the Central Coast. As Greater Sydney and the Central Coast grow, it is vital that communities are provided with great public spaces, access to the natural environment and recreational areas.

“As a firm advocate of the need for more trees across Sydney, I am particularly pleased that several of these projects being announced today will deliver more trees around sporting fields in Sydney’s West to provide shade for parents and children and assisting in reducing the impact of the ‘urban heat effect’,” Mr Roberts said.

Applications for the next round of funding under the Program will be open in August 2017.

Details at greater.sydney/metropolitan-greenspace-program

Media: John Macgowan 0409 403 773

PROJECT SUMMARIES BY COUNCIL

CENTRAL COAST COUNCIL

Terrigal Rotary Park Upgrade Grant: $100,000 Improvements to a popular park on the foreshore of Terrigal Lagoon will include new and upgraded BBQs and shelters, foreshore rehabilitation works, new garden beds, and perimeter safety bollards. Consistent with Central Coast Regional Plan 2036, which has a vision of a green grid across the region, allowing residents to connect to a network of open space, natural areas and recreational facilities.

WOLLONDILLY SHIRE

Picton Botanic Gardens – Sportsground Connectivity. Grant: $80,000 New shared pathways (1500m length) will connect a regional sportsground to Picton town centre, improving walkability and access for the township. Improved access to a regional sports facility and extends a linear park through Picton town centre.

CAMDEN

Nepean River Trail Western Gateway, Camden. Grant: $200,000 A masterplan for a new regional sportsground between Onslow Park and Camden Bicentennial Equestrian Park, Camden will promote improved access and circulation to the site, with connections across Matahil Creek and along the Nepean River. Improves access to a regional sports facility. Part of the Nepean River Trail, identified as major Green Grid opportunity in South West District Plan.

GEORGES RIVER

Gannon’s Park Renaturalisation – Water quality improvement and renaturalisation – Stage 2, Peakhurst. Grant: $562,000 Reinstating the natural line of Upper Boggywell Creek in Gannon’s Park, with wetlands, bio-retention systems and storage ponds, and a new boardwalk to improve public access (138m). Connects to Green Grid Project 8 – Georges River Parklands and identified as a major Green Grid opportunity in South District Plan.

CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN

Salt Pan Creek Reserve II – Detailed design works Stage 1, Riverwood. Grant: $171,500 Detailed designs to deliver a reserve to be used as a regional park for south and south west Sydney, with a variety of recreation activities, including a new shared pathway system to connect the reserve to the existing Salt Pan Creek trails network A key project as part of Priority Project 3 in South District Plan – Salt Pan Creek Open Space Corridor.

INNER WEST

Greenway - Central Missing Links, Access, Activation and Landscape Masterplan. Grant: $45,000 Develops a masterplan for missing links in the Greenway program to unlock 1ha of currently inaccessible open space and enable access to a further 1ha of open space. Priority Project 1 in the Central District Plan - The Iron Cove Greenway and the Hawthorne Canal.

KU-RING-GAI

Browns Waterhole Track, North Epping and South Turramurra. Grant: $20,000 Design for flood mitigation of a heavily used crossing point of the Lane Cove River, linking Ku-ring-gai and Ryde Local Government Areas, and connecting to the Great North Walk. The project will create design options to improve the track accessibility under wet conditions. Priority Project 1 in the North District Plan - Lane Cove National Park and Lane Cove River. Enhancing open spaces along the Lane Cove River foreshores, linking the Lane Cove National Park to adjacent suburbs.

CITY OF RYDE

ELS Hall Park Upgrade, North Ryde. Grant: $450,000 Upgrades to a popular park to link two major recreational corridors – Shrimpton’s Creek & County Road shared pathways. New tree planting, wayfinding signage, picnic shelters and enhancements to the dog off-leash area. Project 7 in the North District Plan - Eastwood to Macquarie Park Open Space Corridors.

CUMBERLAND

Prospect Reserve Water Pipeline Corridor - Hopman Street Pedestrian Network connection, Greystanes. Grant: $20,000 Construction of an important pedestrian link connecting Hopman Street Park, Greystanes to Lower Prospect Canal Reserve (45m). Priority Project 3 in the West Central District Plan - Prospect Reservoir Water Pipeline Corridor.

CUMBERLAND

Prospect Reserve Water Pipeline Corridor – Warren Road pedestrian link, Merrylands West. Grant: $95,000 Creates an accessible ramped pedestrian path north/south link to Lower Prospect Canal Reserve (142m). Priority Project 3 in the West Central District Plan - Prospect Reservoir Water Pipeline Corridor.

CUMBERLAND

Duck River Open Space corridor - Regional Playground, Auburn. Grant: $100,000 Creates an all abilities playground in this regional destination, creates additional walking links along the river corridor. Priority Project 2 in the West Central District Plan -Duck River Open Space Corridor.

CUMBERLAND

Duck River Open Space Corridor, Auburn – Plan of Management & Landscape Masterplan. Grant: $75,000 Development of a strategic plan of management and design costings for a major open space corridor. Priority Project 2 in the West Central District Plan -Duck River Open Space Corridor.

CITY OF PARRAMATTA

Toongabbie Creek parkland upgrade, Toongabbie. Grant: $425,000 New sports field and multipurpose court, improvements to the existing reserve including a new creek crossing and revegetation of the creek, new signage and seating. Project 8 in the West Central District Plan - Toongabbie and Blacktown Creeks Corridor.

BLACKTOWN

Great West Walk Stage 2. Grant: $40,000 This project links multiple pathways and open spaces in a new regional walking trail within Blacktown Council area. Priority Project 4 in the West Central District Plan -Western Sydney Parklands Extension and Connections.

HAWKESBURY

Governor Philip Park Upgrade, Windsor. Grant: $500,000 Improves recreational capacity and links for a regionally significant reserve and boat launching area. The project includes a new playground, river bank stabilisation and new pathways at the confluence of South Creek and the Nepean River. Priority Project 2 in the West District Plan – South Creek.

PENRITH

Sports Field Shade Trees (11 sites). Grant: $89,000 Shade tree planting in eleven public reserves as part of councils’ Cooling the City Strategy. Contributes to Sustainability Priority 10: Mitigate the urban heat island effect, in the West District Plan.

PENRITH

Our River – Shared Path Tench Reserve, Jamisontown. Grant: $200,000 Improved access around the Great Nepean River Walk, including a 200m shared path through Tench Reserve. Improves the Great Nepean River Walk (connects to Priority Project 1 in the West District Plan – Penrith Lakes Parklands).

BLUE MOUNTAINS

Great Blue Mountains Trail – Cliff Drive near Kiah Lookout, Katoomba. Grant: $593,154 Design and construction of a safe pedestrian and bushwalking connection from Leura Cascades to Kiah lookout, a popular section of the Great Blue Mountains Trail (450m). Further design of trail improvements to Scenic World, Katoomba. Project 5 in the West District Plan - Great Western Highway Penrith to Blackheath Corridor. Improves the Great Blue Mountains Trail.

BLUE MOUNTAINS

Knapsack Reserve, Glenbrook (part funding – pathways) Grant: $225,000 Development of a central hub for sporting activities at Knapsack Reserve. Funding to upgrade cycling and walking trails in the reserve to provide new and improved access to the new facilities and to existing lookouts. Project 8 in the West District Plan – Eastern Escarpment open space and trails.