Iron Cove Creek Walk and Cycleway
Hi neighbours,

This is a short survey to gauge local support for a new walking and cycling path over the existing canal from Ashfield Aquatic Centre to the Bay Run at Iron Cove.

We're aware this is a proposal which the Inner West Council has flagged as a long term project, and we want to try to give it momentum so it might happen sooner.

We'd be very grateful for your time and thoughts. The survey should take only a few minutes to complete.

Thanks for sharing your views.

Friends of Iron Cove Creek

Why we think a canal walkway is a good idea:

Installing a walkway over the Dobroyd (Iron Cove Creek) canal at road height, or on its banks where the canal is wider, would create a safe active corridor between Ashfield Aquatic Centre and the Bay Run at Iron Cove. It would improve accessibility and open up more space for parks and playgrounds. The canal would only need to be covered for 900 metres (the metal grating cover would not disrupt water flow, and would be designed so that Sydney Water can safely maintain the canal). The walkway would be accessible for the whole community.

We're hoping the path will be able to extend alongside the Ashfield Aquatic Centre carpark and under the railway bridge to give people on the south side of the tracks a safer and more pleasant way to access the pool than Frederick St. Both car parks at the Aquatic Centre are full to bursting on hot days, and cars are overflowing onto the nearby streets. Even if this canal walk/cycleway is not feasible, something needs to be done to allow people to walk and cycle safely.  

Constructing new cycleways creates more jobs than does the same money when spent on new roads. The State Government is currently making funds available for cycle ways and public space projects. If the community wants this, let's get it done now — not in another 10 years!

Contact us:

Let us know if you don't want to use Google Forms — we can send you a hard copy of this survey to be returned to PO Box 227 at Croydon Post Office.

You can reach us by email at: friendsofironcovecreek@gmail.com

More detail on the project and our privacy policy can be found at the bottom of the survey.

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Email *
Before and (proposed – artists impression) after for the canal over Etonville Pde. (For a full size image scroll to the bottom of the page.)
Map. (Blue = walkway above the canal; orange = possible rail underpass connection; green is existing bicycle paths.) More detail: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/3/edit?mid=1zFvrjt6uaHoC8glp42N02NFGpWXYoZI6&usp=sharing
Inspiration from the Haberfield Greenway
Are you a resident of the Inner West Council local government area? (If not, please specify your LGA under 'Other'.) *
What is your postcode? *
Do you live along the canal? *
Do you support commencing work on a walking and cycling path on the Iron Cove Creek / Dobroyd Canal in the next two years? *
Why (or why not)?
Would you personally use this path if it were created? *
Required
How (if at all) would you use this path? *
Required
If you would not personally use this path, why not?
Would you use the railway underpass connecting Heighway Ave and the Aquatic centre (shown in purple in the image below)? *
Required
Railway crossing between Aquatic Centre and Heighway Ave
Do you have any further suggestions, questions or concerns about this proposal?
Would you be interested in joining us to build momentum on this project? We'd be very grateful for  any contribution in whatever form – spreading the word, responding to Council surveys, offering advice (on anything from design to engineering and hydrology), lobbying the council, etc.
Would you like to receive updates about this community action?
Clear selection
What is your age? *
What is your gender? *
How did you hear about this?
One of the wider sections of the Dobroyd canal
The Croydon Dog Off Leash park could be accessed via this section of the canal.
Full size artist's impression of a possible walkway over the canal on Etonvile Pde
More details
The Inner West Council's Integrated Transport Strategy lists this project as one of the new greenways proposed for the State Government's Sydney Green Grid Project – "a long-term vision for a network of high quality green areas – from regional parks to local parks and playgrounds – that connect centres, public transport and public spaces to green infrastructure and landscape features". The NSW Government Planning Minister is also encouraging councils to be innovative with existing infrastructure to create more green space, after COVID-19 has highlighted the importance of local amenities.

When placed over the canal, the walkway would likely be constructed from galvanised steel mesh boardwalk, which would allow water to flow through it. An example of this type of boardwalk from Manly can be seen here: https://www.totalearthcare.com.au/portfolio/walking-track-north-head-manly/ (note that this isn't over a stormwater canal)

How we will use your responses:
We're hoping that this survey will provide a sense of what the community thinks about this walking and cycling path proposal. We intend to share the de-identified results with the council if it turns out the majority of community members want to see this project prioritised. For these reasons, we'd appreciate it if you could only complete the survey once, and let us know if you live along the canal (the council will be particularly interested in understanding your views). We won't share personal details with Council, or with anyone else. We won't contact you unless you have requested that we do. Once we have analysed trends from the survey responses, we will delete the form and responses.

References for research cited in the introduction can be provided on request.
Relevant links
Link to this survey https://forms.gle/kzpLd4aiMpGtN2728

Dobroyd and Hawthorne Canals flood risk management study and plan webpage and draft document: https://yoursay.innerwest.nsw.gov.au/managing-flood-risk-in-your-neighbourhood-hawthorne-canal-catchment


Sydney Water plan to naturalise part of the canal: https://www.sydneywatertalk.com.au/ironcovecreek?tool=news_feed#tool_tab


Sydney Water information on Building over or next to assets: https://www.sydneywater.com.au/sw/plumbing-building-developing/building/building-over-or-next-to-assets/index.htm


Committee for Sydney "Reclaiming Parramatta Road" Nov 2020
https://sydney.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/CfS-Reclaiming-Parramatta-Road-Web.pdf


"I am not dying to cycle to Ashfield Aquatic Centre" Review video from Canada Bay Bicycle User Group: https://www.youtube.com/watch?fbclid=IwAR0xKBNU3Pi8zgjNQjrkjH4ATaQPQe95_zyKPxj8qBD94slb5MeDfK4TGO8&v=puZEcoHWZIA&feature=youtu.be

Media:

Sydney's inner west gets $20m for cycleways to revitalise open spaces 21/04/20
The urban projects are a small step towards sprucing up areas along one of the city's biggest eyesores.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/sydney-s-inner-west-gets-20m-for-cycleways-to-revitalise-open-spaces-20200421-p54lsl.html?


Rush to parks, cycleways during shutdown reveals Sydney's great divide 28/04/20
Stitching together a patchwork of small parks, cycle and pedestrian paths is considered one way to improving public spaces.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/nsw/rush-to-parks-cycleways-during-shutdown-reveals-sydney-s-great-divide-20200428-p54nzl.html


More cycleways, streets to shut, footpaths widened under NSW's COVID-19 plan 7/05/20
Planning and Public Spaces Minister Rob Stokes said the sheer volume of people now exercising on narrow walkways or parklands exposed the limitations of historic urban design.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/more-cycleways-streets-to-shut-footpaths-widened-under-nsw-s-covid-19-plan-20200507-p54qwc.html?btis


Call to fast-track bike lanes to boost jobs and take advantage of lockdown-induced bicycle sales 26/05/20
Move would promote social distancing, take thousands of cars off roads and make it safer for riders, Australian cycling organisation says
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/26/call-to-fast-track-bike-lanes-to-boost-jobs-and-take-advantage-of-lockdown-induced-bicycle-sales


NSW government releases 'shared backyard' vision for greener city 24/06/20
Parklands and other open spaces should be within just 200m of high-density homes and 400m from schools and workplaces, under new NSW Government guidelines prioritising greenery in the wake of COVID-19. https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/nsw-government-releases-shared-backyard-vision-for-greener-city-20200624-p555m3.html?btis


Councils to tap into $250m pool for public spaces 4/08/20
The funding boost from the state government comes on the proviso that councils speed up their development assessments.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/councils-to-tap-into-250m-pool-for-public-spaces-20200804-p55ihs.html?btis


'Giving back the streets': The plan to de-pave 800km of Sydney roads 19/10/20
The architects behind the major redesign of Central Station want to redesign a vast network of residential streets to take 100,000 cars off the road.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/giving-back-the-streets-the-plan-to-de-pave-800km-of-sydney-roads-20201019-p566is.html?btis


'Untapped potential': Push for 80km path from Opera House to Parramatta 20/10/20
The proposed pedestrian and cycling path would pass through 18 suburbs along Sydney Harbour and the Parramatta River - but it faces a significant hurdle.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/untapped-potential-push-for-80km-path-from-opera-house-to-parramatta-20201020-p566q4.html?btis


Suburban meadows, green pipes and a 42km bike track: how to rebuild Sydney after the pandemic 29/10/20
Creating 'micro-meadows' in the city's suburbs and reinventing car-parking buildings are among hundreds of ideas aimed at reinventing public spaces.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/suburban-meadows-green-pipes-and-a-42km-bike-track-how-to-rebuild-sydney-after-the-pandemic-20201029-p569td.html


The secret suburban stormwater drains being turned into vibrant public wetlands 11/12/20
If you take a walk around any established Australian neighbourhood, chances are you will come across barbed wire fences marked with signs warning people to KEEP OUT.
https://amp.abc.net.au/article/12977968?utm_source=abc_news_web&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_content=twitter&utm_campaign=abc_news_web&__twitter_impression=true
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