Planning Minister Tony Kelly said projects being funded include the construction of elevated walkways through bushland; a scenic foreshore walk north of Sydney; access steps to a scuba diving location; and an innovative boardwalk over an existing seawall.

 

The funding has been allocated under the Metropolitan Greenspace Program (MGP), an open-space grants program that has provided nearly $30 million to about 516 projects across Sydney since 1990.

 

The MGP has made considerable progress on delivering the Sydney Metropolitan Regional Recreation Trails Framework, since 2006.

 

“[Last year] was the fifth year where the program has focused on funding projects that develop the Regional Recreational Trails Framework and more than $1.75 million of this year’s allocation has gone towards recreation trail related projects,” Minister Kelly said.

 

“This will provide funding for the planning or construction of approximately 16 kilometres of regional trails.”

 

Funding under the MGP is provided to local councils on a dollar-for-dollar basis for specific regionally significant projects, which help restore, conserve or enhance land in public ownership to provide access and facilities for recreation purposes.

 

According to the Minister this year, Lane Cove Council is being committed $74,950 to construct 1.5km of elevated walkways through Lane Cove Bushland Park, upgrade signage and undertake bush regeneration.

 

Some other projects being funded through the MGP this year includes; $62,500 to Hornsby Shire Council to create a 600m foreshore walk within McKell Park, extending from Brooklyn to Parsley Bay; $60,000 to Hornsby Shire Council to restore and conserve historic sandstone steps built during the 1930s and protect surrounding bushland; $40,000 to Ku-ring-gai Council to undertake detail design work provide off-road mountain bike cycling at Golden Jubilee Oval, Wahroonga; $200,000 to Ryde City Council for detailed design of the strategic link between Bill Mitchell Park and Glades Bay Park.

 

Other projects includes; $12,500 to Ryde City Council to undertake detailed design of an 800m pedestrian bush track within Glades Bay Park, which will improve access along the Lane Cover River foreshore; $200,000 to Sutherland Shire Council to provide access steps into Shiprock Reserve; and $75,000 to Manly Council to enhance the popular Manly Lagoon playground,

A new report has also been released that updates progress on the rollout of the Sydney Metropolitan Regional Recreation Trails Framework.