As at December 2024, Council has 3 projects ready but unfunded and four projects ”shovel ready”, i.e. designed, approved, funded.
Email to the Council Engineering Manager Manod Wickramasinghe
Dear Manod,
Our understanding is that the recent Get Active Grants (application closed on 25/11/2024) were to be for the 2025/26 financial years and that construction for successful grants could commence by 1 July 2025 and have to be completed by 30 June 2028.
From the cycling projects listed below it would now appear that the following ‘construction ready projects’ will now have to wait for 2026/27 grants to open to gain construction funding:
1. Marrickville Road East
2. West St Petersham
3. Lilyfield Rd
To our knowledge these projects have been on the books at least since the merger of the 3 former councils to IWC on 12 May 2016. Why has it taken so long for Council to undertake the ‘design, engagement and approvals’ ?
Additionally you advise that the following projects have construction funding approval:
1. Sydenham Station to Mary St
2. Lilyfield Rd crossings to Rozelle Parklands
3. Pyrmont Bridge Road cycleway
4. Livingstone Road enhancements
When are these projects likely to actually have construction commence?
From our perspective all these projects have been subject to inordinate and unexplained delays.
Unfortunately, we are left with the impression that cycleway construction is not a priority for Inner West Council, despite the advice to the contrary in the Integrated Transport Strategy, the Cycling Strategy and Action Plan and the Community Strategic Plan.
Some clear answers to our questions would go a long way to allaying the concerns of our members and the cycling public.
Kind regards
Neil Tonkin
Advocacy Coordinator, Inner West Bicycle Coalition