The Parkway + the City’s draft cycle strategy

The Parkway is a concept plan for a green off-road pedestrian-cycle route through Chippendale. It is a series of  "green" people connectors through local neighbourhoods - with the primary north - south axis taking you from the City &  East Darling Harbour to Alexandria, Newtown and the Australian Technology Park through Chippendale and the major east-west axis taking you from Glebe to the University of NSW.   

This is achieved through the creation of green space and public domain opportunities – either through footpath extensions or dedicated off-road opportunities, reducing through traffic and prioritising pedestrian and cycle movement, where possible.

We’re really excited about the proposal, which we see as a fresh rethink in terms of an alternate transport mode.

Initially conceived by a group of local residents and business owners, these plans were further developed to respond to the proposed urbanisation of our village and Redfern Waterloo as well as address existing challenges, such as the lack of open space and traffic gridlock which rings our small suburb.

We see the plans as perfect timing to address continuing frustrations in terms of Sydney’s reliance on car use and also the release of the City’s draft cycle strategy with plans by the City also underway for a pedestrian strategy. 

Importantly, the Parkway builds on the proposed City’s 10 year cycle strategy which was approved for public exhibition last week with the City also undertaking to review the Parkway proposal as part of the City’s strategy.  

Initial feedback has been very positive; however we’d like to get your feedback before finetuning the proposal and following it up with other stakeholders.

The Parkway also takes into account the recently released Metro Strategy where land corridors south and west of Chippendale (along Parramatta Road) face intense high rise urbanisation, however are reliant on existing transport routes.

As part of the plan, the new Redfern Town Centre (station) would become the City’s pedestrian-cyclist hub reducing heavy bus movement along George Street and Eddie Avenue freeing up road use for future light rail use.  

Recent feedback has also raised the possibility whether community gardens or avenues of fruit-bearing trees could be incorporated into the proposal.

Importantly, the Parkway fast-tracks the City’s strategy which aims to increase cycle usage five fold within the next ten years. Here we believe more significant pedestrian and cycle movement can be supported to meet the large population growth in this area.

The Parkway also addresses the City’s draft cycle master-plan.  Whilst the City’s plan includes 20 key routes through the local government area, it does not include any short to medium term cycle paths through Chippendale nor adjacent localities south or west of Chippendale but rather relies on cycle routes through Surry Hills and Redfern.  This necessitates the need for locals to navigate dangerous road arterials that quarantine our suburb.

This oversight however is the perfect opportunity to put in place the missing link as well as taking Council’s strategy a big step further by putting in place some key initiatives for a pedestrian strategy through this area.   

The Parkway also provides what we believe is a more viable solution for an east-west route through Chippendale, by using the Meagher/Myrtle Street alignment resulting in a shorter cross-section over State owned lands.  This addresses heritage concerns arising from Council’s longer term proposed route through the CUB site to Prince Alfred Park, via the access route near Mortuary station.

A key benefit for locals is that the Parkway focuses on addressing existing environmental and social challenges as well as focusing on existing communities, the majority of which live in low rise communities and face substantial challenges as their suburbs face such intense urbanisation.

We would appreciate if we could get your feedback by Monday 14 August – via the Coalition of Chippendale Groups email address communityworkingparty@yahoo.com.au – let us know what you like, if you have any concerns are or suggestions.  We also welcome input from anyone who would like to be member of the working group developing these plans.