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There’s a lot in the works for Western Sydney when it comes to nature access. Earlier this week, the NSW Government confirmed they’d be creating a new national park three times the size of Centennial Parklands, and now City of Parramatta have officially revealed a major upgrade to the city’s walking and cycling network. Plans for Stage 3 of the Duck River Nature Trail have now officially been endorsed, bringing the vision of a 4.5-kilometre riverside trail connecting the Parramatta River to the M4 a step closer to reality.
This week, the City of Parramatta gave the green light to the concept design for the next stage of the project, after consulting with the community about what will work best. Once complete, the trail will create a leafy corridor linking Silverwater with the Parramatta River foreshore and the M4 Shared Path, connecting neighbourhoods in south-east Parramatta with parks, open spaces and key transport links (making it easier for walkers and cyclists to get around without having to contend with busy roads). The updated design features a heap of thoughtful additions aimed at making the trail more comfortable and practical to use. Alongside separated walking and cycling paths (for most of the route), plans now include extra seating, water bubblers, bike parking, bike repair stations and lighting along the entire eastern foreshore to improve safety, particularly during the shorter winter days.
City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Martin Zaiter described the project as "the single biggest investment by Council in walking and cycling", saying it will transform the way locals experience the Duck River while improving connections between neighbourhoods, parks and employment hubs. "We asked the community for their feedback and we have listened," he said. "The result is a stronger design that responds directly to what residents told us was important."
According to the City of Parramatta, the project also aims to strike a balance between accessibility and conservation, with the revised plans maintaining separated paths across most of the alignment while minimising impacts on the river corridor's natural ecology. There's no official opening date just yet, but with the concept design now endorsed, the riverside trail is a little closer to becoming a reality. You can find out more over here.
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