Appendix 1 -
Botany Bay Trail Pre-feasibility Study
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Notes from a presentation made by Nick Benson |
Background
The Botany Bay Trail is a recommendation made in "The Tide is Turning", Final Report of the Botany Bay Program . It is an opportunity to bring community and government together, building trust and respect while working towards a common goal. The San Francisco Bay Trail, a very similar project, is a good working example of this.
A population of more than 1 million currently access land and water based recreation in the Bay. Public access exists in many places, but no plan yet exists for a continuous system. Southern Sydney Region of Councils (SSROC) is a readymade focus for initial work supported by SSEC and SSC.
Objectives
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Identify an in principle route and test its potential for gradual implementation
- Divide the route into sectors and apply the trail concept to each sector
- opportunities and existing infrastructure
- constraints and barriers to movement
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Suggest future detailed studies
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Planning, design, costing, implementation
- Recommend priorities for action
Approach
- Search for possible routes for a trail
- Liaise with key landholders and developers:
- Sydney Airport
- Sydney Ports Corporation
- South Sydney Development Corporation
- Sydney Harbour Foreshores Authority
- Help in form of maps, air photos, technical reports
- Accurately identify existing infrastructure and landward boundaries of their sites
- Liaise with Councils and Government: (All Bayside SSROC Councils, National Parks and Wildlife Service, Roads and Traffic Authority)
- Obtain reaction to trail concept
- Info on existing trail elements
- Their thoughts on problem areas and constraints
- Ongoing walk/cycle path projects which could form part of ultimate network
Community and User Group Consultation
- La Perouse people, BicycleNSW, Botany Environment Watch
- Botany Bay and Catchment Alliance, Kurnell Regional Environment Planning Council
- Rockdale Wetlands Society, Taren Point Wetlands Group
- obtain reaction to trail proposal
- issues and concerns raised
- opportunities for future participation
- A general picture of land ownership pattern along the foreshore:
- commonwealth, state, council, private, institutional
- Mapping of overall route and individual sectors
- Trail design:
- tentative suggestions for engineering solutions, drainage, surfacing, signage, access
- Field inspections
- Brief discussion of links to other existing and proposed trails
- Woronora, Georges River, Cooks River etc.
Botany Bay is Unique in Character
Rich Aboriginal and European history, cultural diversity of its people, wide open spaces and vistas, a variety of wildlife habitats, wealth of heritage - it holds a special place in the hearts of locals and visitors alike.
Despite the massive presence of industry, it still manages to inspire the imagination and a trail will enable everyone to explore this special Bay, to raise awareness of its environmental state both good and bad, and help promote a better sense of belonging to country.
Parts of the trail will be suitable for all, including wheelchair users, whilst others will be appropriate for walkers only with alternative routes for cyclists. |
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• Exec Summary 
Sutherland Shire Environment Centre | Suite 4 (1st Floor), 2-4 Merton Street, Sutherland NSW 2232