The Hon. Dr Andrew Refshauge MP
Minister for Urban Affairs and Planning,
Member for Marrickville
5th December 2000, excerpt only:
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I've already indicated our intention to transform the canal and its environment into a major ecological and recreational asset for the community. Cycle and pedestrian pathways along the length of the canal are there to provide opportunities for recreation.
And I've let my preferences be known to the board that I don't mind if they bring those opportunities forward and we can have cycleways and pedestrian ways ahead of the otherwise scheduled time frame for it. For two reasons: one - we're all getting older, and the more we can ride our bikes the longer we'll live. And secondly: if it's out of site it's out of mind and the more people that are riding and walking along it the more people will be seeing it and therefore the pressure will be on to finish it faster than in twenty years time.
So that's what my committment is there, is to keep on the board's back. I know they keep on saying to me, 'provide me the money and we'll do it' but I think we need to come up with some more imaginative ways and I know the board has been listening to those proposals for quite some time.
The masterplan provides for a first stage distance of the cycle and pedestrian way of 1.25 kilometres, so you can go up and down that a few times to get your 5ks a day. And a completed distance of about two and a half kilometres.
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Thanks to Belinda Sommer of ABC Radio for the recording of this speech