Do you think Shire residents should be able to walk and cycle safely between Sutherland and Cronulla? Help make it happen by writing a letter to two key NSW ministers. Here’s a draft letter and instructions to make it quick and easy. There’s also a petition you can sign, though sending letters is far more effective.
It isn’t rocket science! Building safe active transport networks that entice people to use them in preference to cars is a win win win win proposition. It reduces greenhouse gas emissions, improves air quality, physical and mental health and reduces traffic and parking congestion. It is also far less expensive than building more roads and public transport!
This is why the rail-corridor aligned route is so very important for the Sutherland to Cronulla Active Transport Link (SCATL) – the ‘spine’ for the Shire’s active transport network. Please write a quick letter (draft provided) to NSW State Ministers to let them know that residents are not satisfied with a second-rate route that will result in accidents between cyclists and pedestrians. We need a quality path that people will want to use, not one that will cause rate payers to fork out more for ongoing maintenance issues and litigation costs.
Sutherland Shire Environment Centre has been campaigning for a safe, direct off-road bike and walking path along the rail corridor between Sutherland and Cronulla since 2006. An announcement approving a rail-corridor aligned route was made by State Government in 2015. This was enthusiastically endorsed by Sutherland Council, Bicycle NSW, Sutherland Shire Environment Centre, Shire Climate Action Network, Miranda Precinct Committee and other community groups.
In 2021 the NSW government suddenly back-peddled on the planned route for SCATL, shortening it to end at Woolooware instead of Cronulla mall and moving it from alongside the rail corridor to busy roads, which forces users to cross hundreds of driveways and major intersections. An additional and important benefit of using the rail corridor is that fewer trees will need to be removed. State government’s reasons for reneging on their use of the corridor make little sense as their changed plans don’t provide a better or safer route for cyclists and walkers.
Despite vocal advocacy from Sutherland Council and the community, all plans to build within the rail corridor appear to have been rejected. Our only hope for changing their mind is for the community to speak up and tell the NSW Minister for Transport that a route over driveways and alongside busy roads and shopping routes is simply not good enough.
We’ve drafted a letter and provided links to the contact pages for the Minister for Transport and the Minister for Roads to make it quick (5 minutes) and easy for you to tell them to build SCATL alongside the rail corridor.
You can also sign our petition and ask for your friends and family to do the same.
What is SCATL and why is it important?
The Sutherland to Cronulla Active Transport Link (SCATL) is a walking and cycling path, intended to function as a central spine for a growing active transport network for the Shire. Smaller, less expensive connectivity to suburbs and services can be added after this crucial “Spine” is established.
If safe and efficient, SCATL will provide an alternative to driving and public transport. An effective active transport network is one of the least expensive solutions to the traffic congestion that has arisen due to the rapid increase in high density housing in the Shire.
Why is it important to align SCATL with the rail corridor?
In short, the rail corridor is the safest, most efficient and pleasant route as it avoids hills and road traffic and reduces the number of busy intersections and driveways that need to be crossed. State government recognised the importance of this alignment as they promised to deliver it in 2015.
Multiple community consultations show it is the route preferred by Shire residents and community groups, including the Sutherland Shire Environment Centre (SSEC), the Shire Climate Action Network, Miranda Precinct Committee. It is the route supported by Sutherland Council, BicycleNSW. Have a look at their excellent submission.
The SSEC has been campaigning for the rail-corridor route since 2006.
Why is State Government resistant to building SCATL in the corridor?
Australia has been slow to shift from a car-focussed outlook to recognising the cost-effective and beneficial attributes of active transport networks, particularly in population dense cities.
There is a lack of political will and this has been compounded by difficulties in negotiating with Sydney trains to share corridor space. The good news is that there is sufficient space within the corridor (here’s a gallery of photos that prove it) and growing pressure in many Sydney suburbs to utilise the excess space within these corridors for active transport.
Costs for using the corridor could be greatly decreased by installing at grade road crossings rather than expensive tunnels and bridges. As far as we know, State Government has not assessed this less expensive option.
Is it safe to have an active transport path within a rail corridor?
Yes! There are plenty of examples of safe, effective active transport within rail corridors including the Como-Oatley shared path and the Liverpool to Parramatta cycleway, in Sydney. In Melbourne, there are numerous examples of active transport paths in rail corridors that are safely used without the without the need for expensive fencing or other extravagant infrastructure including the Upfield Trail near Royal Park Station, Parkville (photo below), the Upfield Trail near Flemington Park Station, the Sandridge Trail near South Melbourne and the Sandridge Trail down near Port Melbourne.
What parts of SCATL have been completed?
Jackson Ave, Miranda – Kareena Road
- The section between Jackson Ave and Kareena Rd has been completed, and although useful, we ask that an improved route on the South side of the rail corridor, starting from Gibbs Street in Miranda be added in the future as it will be more direct, eliminate road crossings and avoid a steep incline.
Kareena Road, Miranda – Gannons Road, Caringbah
- A path has been completed on the South side of Kingsway with a signalled crossing at Willarong Rd to cross the Kingsway and access Banksia Road. A cyclist-only section has been constructed on the South side of Banksia Rd that merges with Denman Ave. In the future, we ask for a path to be built on the South side of the rail corridor as it will provide a more efficient active transport spine.
Gannons Road, Caringbah – Cronulla
- Stage 3 – options are still being assessed. The best option would be to utilise the South side of the rail corridor and the new bridge over Gannons Road which was built to accommodate SCATL and to adopt Sutherland Council’s proposal to connect to Cronulla mall and train station with maximum use of the rail corridor.
Background
We were so pleased in May 2015 when the State Government announced plans to support the project, saying the “Government is committed to the planning and design of this walking and cycling path between Sutherland and Cronulla as part of Sydney’s Cycling Future.”
Bicycles are the ultimate in clean-energy vehicles, with zero emissions and only a small amount of material required for their construction. Climate change and peak oil are two of the biggest issues we face as a civilisation.
Scientists around the world have been ringing alarm bells about these issues for years, and governments are finally starting to take notice. Billions of dollars are being invested in “green cars” and carbon-reduction schemes, yet bicycle promotion and infrastructure remains underfunded in many countries.
More information
There is plenty of room in the rail corridor to accommodate a shared path. Have a look at this gallery of photos that prove it.
Bicycle NSW lodged an excellent submission to State Government which provides details with photos on how to build it right. You can access it here.
For more information please contact the SCATL Convenor c/- office@ssec.org.au
