Heritage canal and cycleway, was Old Bridge.

Spoke too soon :(

r


The cycleway along the Lower Prospect Canal is closed between Prospect
Reservoir and Hylands Rd.

This closure is in effect until 17th October (if we are lucky).

There is supposed to be a signposted detour route along Greystanes Rd
and through the Nelson Ridge residential area.  There appear to be no
alternatives that I see apart from either Chandos St or The Horsley
Drive and through Wetherall Park or Blacktown and the M4 or via the
regional route along the railway.

This closure is due to a major industrial and residential development
planned by Boral for Southern Employment Lands (usings the old Prospect
Quarry)  granted by the Minister for Planning in July 2007 under the
Part 3a approval process - this is the approval process that gives the
Minister the right to approve any site he thinks is significant enough
without any interference by the local council or community. That change
to the EP&A law went in several years ago but the Minister is planning
even tighter control over development applications, taking away even
more council influence, meaning taking away even more consultation with
the local community and other stakeholders, like bike groups.... but
thats another issue!

There is information about this development on the planning nsw web
site   ('here'
(http://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/asp/2007_ndetermination_part3a.asp)
search for Greystanes and you will find it).. You will notice that there
is a singular lack of recognition that there is any cycleway in the area
and just one mention of building a cycleway (as if its a benefit rather
than reinstating access already available)

Anyway, according to Holroyd Council the original plans include an
alternative cycleway including a cycleway bridge over a proposed road
which is part of the development.  BUT more recent construction diagrams
show diverting cyclists onto Greystanes Road and through the Nelson's
Ridge estate and Holroyd Council is raising concerns with the lack of
consultation and risk to cyclists.  Council is asking for urgent
representation to retain the heritage canal and cycleway intact at the
location of the roadworks by providing a grade separated crossing of the
proposed road.

(this is is just another case of closure of a cycling route without
providing an alternative.)