Chapter Three |
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GMR 3 - Milperra |
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| Sub-section |
| Start and finish |
Kelso Park (Panania)/ Milperra Bridge (Milperra) |
| Distance |
5.0km (walking) 3.5km (cycling) |
| Grade |
2-3 |
| Main features |
- Deepwater Park
- Riverlands Wetlands
- Vale of Ah Reserve
- Kelso Park
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| Description |
- BCC have proposed a pedestrian route through Deepwater Park - under the South Western Freeway - through the foreshore wetlands adjoining Riverlands Golf Course - through the Vale of Ah Reserve to Milperra Bridge (5.0 km) - connecting with the planned off-road trail through Kentucky Reserve.
- BBS have proposed an alternative walking route that avoids ecologically sensitive areas in Deepwater Park.
- BCC have nominated a cycling route - through Kelso Park - crossing SW Freeway and following (on-road) Henry Lawson Drive to Milperra Bridge.
- SW BUG have nominated an alternative route along Poziers Ave, Raleigh Road and Auld Reserve - avoids heavy traffic of Lawson Drive.
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| Opportunities and constraints |
- This section links Mirambeena/ Kentucky sections to Picnic Point/Little Salt Pan Creek sections allowing for 19 km of almost continuous GR foreshore access in Bankstown LGA
- Tracks and boardwalks through Deepwater/ Riverlands could have important recreational and educational advantages - helping to raise local environmental awareness
- Several species of rare and threatened birds and plants could be impacted by trail construction
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| Actions |
- DIPNR, NPWS, GREA, BBS - to assess the project's sustainability
- Only with these organisation's approval the BBC proposal could proceed
- BCC to make publicly available all environmental and planning documentation produced by consultants
- BCC - plan and mark cycling route in consultation with SW BUG
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| Priority |
B |
| Estimated cost |
$250k |
| Key stakeholders |
BCC/ BBS/ GREA/ DIPNR/ DSNR/ PPWS |
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Rationale:
The walking route (developed in consultation with community environment groups) links East Hills and Picnic Point routes with proposed Kentucky Reserve system and avoids ecologically sensitive areas of Deepwater Park. It provides for a great recreational experience for the Milperra area improving access to degraded areas of Deepwater Park (former Motor Boat Club lands, which is a potential river repair project) and enhancing opportunities for the conservation of very significant and rare wetland environments. A spur track / boardwalk to Georges River provides for recreational and educational opportunities.
The Milperra subsection is a floodplain with a significant remnant of high quality wetlands. Building the trail network through these wetlands would improve opportunities to increase community awareness of best practice foreshore environmental management. In total the Georges River Way will have over 20km of foreshore access throughout the Bankstown local government area, avoiding a sensitive 700m of foreshore (part of Deepwater Park) in order to ensure a sustainable outcome.
The cycling route (developed in consultation with local bicycling groups) avoids dangerous Henry Lawson Drive using safer local streets. |
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• Lower Reaches 
Sutherland Shire Environment Centre | Suite 4 (1st Floor), 2-4 Merton Street, Sutherland NSW 2232