Member for Penrith Stuart Ayres MP welcomes the announcement that a section of the Great River Walk at Emu Plains has gained $270,000 in NSW Government funding.
Mr Ayres said the funding to Penrith City Council was part of a $2.5 million allocation to support new outdoor facilities across Sydney under the Metropolitan Greenspace Program.
“I am pleased this funding has been made available to help recreational activities in the Penrith electorate”, Mr Ayres said.
“The funding is provided on a dollar-for-dollar basis to Penrith City Council which means Penrith electorate will get an overall $540,000 boost.”
The $270,000 in funding is to fund the next construction stage of the Great River Walk by laying a 280 metre shared pedestrian-cyclist pathway along River Road, Emu Plains, and associated landscaping, edging and safety rails.
This continues work funded in previous years under the program and will eventually lead to the completion of a four kilometre loop trail along both sides of the Nepean River.
“I would like to thank Stuart Ayres for his continued support of Penrith City Council. I have no doubt these important upgrades to the Great River Walk will be a terrific benefit for the community” said Mr Ross Fowler, Penrith Mayor.
Planning and Infrastructure Minister Brad Hazzard said the funding would help improve Sydney’s open space to meet the needs of its growing population.
“This funding will help Sydneysiders spend more time outdoors and therefore become more active and healthier,” Planning and Infrastructure Minister Brad Hazzard said.
“Such funding is supported in our draft Metropolitan Strategy, which plans for an additional 1.3 million people in the 20 years to 2031.”
Since its launch in 1990, the Metropolitan Greenspace Program has awarded some $35 million to councils for 562 projects.
Further information about the funding can be found at: www.planning.nsw.gov.au
