Photo: NSW national parks
The Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Rob Stokes, has announced that suburbs across Sydney are to receive new playgrounds, walking trails, and cycle ways as part of a $19 million transformation of Government-owned land.
Mr Stokes said the upgrades were part of a $50 million commitment in the 2019-20 Budget to create new and improved open spaces.
“We want everyone in Greater Sydney to have better access to high-quality open space, given the significant benefits it brings to health and wellbeing,” Mr Stokes said.
“Communities in Beaumont Hills, Hurstville and Frenchs Forest are next in line to benefit from the investment.”
He said improvements would include $9 million for walking tracks and bike trails in Frenchs Forest; $6 million for a new running track or playground at Kempt Field in Hurstville; and $4 million to add nature trails to open space at Withers Road in Beaumont Hills as well as pathways between Smalls Creek and Caddies Creek.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the remaining $31 million would be used to upgrade open space in Appin, Ermington, Hurstville, Leppington and Penrith.
Mr Perrottet said $100 million would also be allocated to buy land across the State to be transformed into parks and playgrounds.
He said the announcement of park upgrades coincided with the release of the Greater Sydney Outdoor Survey, which found residents want open spaces that are free and inclusive and able to be used for activities including walking, picnics, and barbeques.
Mr Stokes said the findings of the survey would help inform how money under the Strategic Open Spaces program will be spent.
