[CAMWEST-discuss] The incomplete Western Sydney Parklands Track

[Rob Kemp]

Hi Liz & Alex,

Over the long weekend I made a couple of trips out to explore the 
Western Sydney Parklands Track. I've been watching the progress of the 
track with interest, as I live about 1500m from Nurragingy Reserve which 
it passes through.
I'd ridden sections of the track several months back before they locked 
the gates.
I sent an email to the Dept of planning on the 29th of November, (1) 
asking when they expected to open the track, as I was keen on organising 
some BUG rides along it, and (2) letting them know that the signs at the 
Horsley Drive access point of the M7 shared path are pointing track 
users in the wrong direction.
I didn't receive a response to my email, and the signs at the Horsley 
Drive intersection are still pointing the wrong way (as of Saturday 26th 
Jan '08)..

BUT....

Despite the official opening and wide media coverage, the section 
between Power St & Nurragingy Reserve in Glendenning is still closaed.  
There's a 200-300 metre stretch in that section which is still waiting 
to be constructed (See link to photos below).
There's no notice on the locked gates as to how track users can deviate 
around this section.

Also the road crossing at Richmond Rd (corner of Symonds Rd, Dean Park) 
is, in my opinion, quite dangerous.  (See photos also).  I won't be 
leading groups across at that intersection.  I'll probably walk the 
bikes across a short distance further back along Richmond Rd.  On the 
southern side of Richmond Rd, the access to the Parklands Track is very 
average.  I'm wondering whether there are plans to upgrading this 
intersection in the near future, which is why they didn't put much 
effort into it.
The other two road crossings (Power St and The Great Western Hwy) are 
reasonable, in that they have good  refuge islands in the centre of the 
roads. The arrangemnet with the traffic lights at the Great Western Hwy 
crossing is unusual to say the least, and could potentially pose some 
problems. There are no pedestrian/cyclist buttons or lights there, so 
people crossing from the north side to the south have to watch for cars 
traveling east along the Great Western Hwy and also exiting around the 
corner from the M7.  Far from ideal.

There is no signage from the M7 path at Quakers Hill to the start of the 
Parklands track, although there is extensive signage further along the 
M7 path where the Parklands Track uses section of the M7 path.

Do you ever get the feeling that the cycling community in Western Sydney 
is getting shafted by the current State Govt?  First the 'Missing link' 
in the Parramatta -Rouse Hill T-way, and now the incomplete section of 
this 'completed' project.
You have to wonder whether it was on purpose that the cycling community 
got less than 24 hours notice of the official opening of the Parklands 
track.....

Would BNSW like to take any action on this?  I have a contact with one 
of the local papers, and I'm happy to let him know, plus send a few 
emails to Dept of planning etc.  Any thoughts?

I'm planning on organsing a CAMWEST  ride along the length of the Track, 
from Quakers Hill to West Hoxton, including a detour
around the incomplete section, sections of the M7 shared path and the 
Greenway Loop in West Hoxton. Total ride distance is around 65 km.
See Bikely link below - Basically doing this and then back along the M7 
path.
Provisional Date: Sat 9th Feb.


Links :
Photos: 
http://picasaweb.google.com/LiteEarthTreader/WesternSydneyParklandsTrack
Biekly map of route: 
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Western-Sydney-Parklands-Track
Media release announcing the trail's opening :
http://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/westernsydneypark/pdf/Western%20Sydney%20Parklands%20track%20082401.pdf
Map : http://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/westernsydneypark/pdf/track%20map.pdf
CAMWEST : http://camwest.pps.com.au/

-- 

cheers,

Rob
-------------------------------------------------------
http://www.robkemp.id.au - Trying to live more sustainably

Ph (h) 02 9864 8797 (w) 02 9296 1561