Go The Greenway. The answer to so many problems. It was rejected as it was only $7 mil more than the original light rail project which came to $30 mil. How ridiculous. GreenWay could combat heat island effect A new study which found temperatures could soar in Sydney due to global warming and the ‘urban heat island effect’ has underlined the need for an inner-west GreenWay, according to the Friends of the GreenWay community group. Researchers from the University of NSW found in research released on Monday [i] that green spaces, trees and water bodies were must-have design features for cities to combat the impacts of global warming. It found temperatures in new release areas on the urban fringe could rise by up to 3.7 degrees and in existing urban areas by 2.5 degrees by 2050. The urban heat island effect occurs when urban structures store heat during the day and then release this heat during the night, increasing night-time temperatures. “This study underlines the need for an inner-west GreenWay which would assist keeping nearby suburbs cooler,” said Jennifer Kent, treasurer of the Friends of the GreenWay group. “There are many good reasons to build a GreenWay – this is yet another one of them. “A GreenWay will maintain and increase vegetation and green cover between Sydney Harbour and the Cooks River and according to the researchers this should reduce the heat island effect. “This is combined with the fact that the GreenWay will encourage people to use bikes or walk as alternatives to car travel, again reducing global warming impacts. “Anyone who has cycled or walked through the existing GreenWay corridor late on a winter’s night can sense it is a lot cooler than surrounding urban areas so the research makes sense. “The government’s preliminary plans were to revegetate just under one hectare of land in the GreenWay corridor to compensate for the removal of 1.1 hectares of vegetation to build the light rail stops. “This study shows that the NSW Government should embrace the GreenWay vision.” Meanwhile, the Friends group also called on the NSW Government to release its plans for the GreenWay after the Sydney Morning Herald revealed hundreds of thousands of dollars has been spent on reports and analysis. The SMH on Saturday July 6 reported on government documents it had obtained under freedom of information laws. It said that Transport for NSW appeared to be working on a “cheaper” plan for the GreenWay and had commissioned research about bike and pedestrian traffic. However, it said this alternative GreenWay plan was not expected to be released until later this year. “It’s now been nearly two years since Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian said the GreenWay had been deferred for a further strategy and it’s time for this strategy to be released and for her to back the GreenWay vision,” Ms Kent said. “A link between the Cooks River and White Bay is listed as a medium term priority in the Long-Term Transport Masterplan so clearly the government, like the broader community, realises this project has merit. “Now it just needs to deliver on it.” Ms Kent said it makes sense to put walking, cycling and environmental improvements alongside public transport not only in the GreenWay catchment but in other areas across Sydney. The GreenWay has the potential to also reduce traffic in the inner-west, through encouraging increased cycling and walking particularly at school pick-up and drop-off times when our roads are crowded. NOTE: The GreenWay will include a 5km walking and cycling link and bushcare and water catchment improvements between Sydney Harbour and the Cooks River. It was infinitely deferred by the Coalition government in the 2011 budget. More information at friendsofthegreenway.org.au More information: Jennifer Kent 0417 044 618
Posted on: Mon, 15 Jul 2013 05:18:32 +0000
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