JOINT MEDIA RELEASE: Carmel Tebbutt MP, Member for Marrickville & Linda Burney MP, Member for Canterbury

MEDIA RELEASE: Wednesday, 15 February 2012

10,000 VOICES TELL O'FARRELL: BUILD THE GREENWAY

More than 10,000 people have signed a petition calling on the O'Farrell Government to save the GreenWay, which was today presented to MPs on the steps of the NSW Parliament.

Member for Marrickville, Carmel Tebbutt and Member for Canterbury, Linda Burney launched the petition late last year to force a debate on the issue on the floor of Parliament.

Labor in Government committed $500 million to extend the light rail network for Sydney, with the Inner West extension including the GreenWay - a three-metre wide pedestrian and cycle path from the Cooks River to Iron Cove, running alongside bushcare sites.

"The residents of the Inner West have delivered a resounding message to the O'Farrell Government today – we want the GreenWay built," Ms Tebbutt said.

"The GreenWay is an integral part of the Inner West Light Rail Extension – it will not only provide recreational and transport opportunities for the local community, but act as a corridor for threatened wildlife and regenerate bushcare sites.

"Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian was invited to today's presentation but was nowhere to be seen. This just shows the O'Farrell Government's complete disregard for residents of the Inner West.

"We are in danger of missing a once in a generation opportunity to construct such a project. Mr O'Farrell and his Transport Minister need to look to the future and step up to the challenge of improving transport in the Inner West."

"The people of the Inner West have said 'yes' to this project and the NSW Government needs to listen," Ms Burney said.

"I hope that by debating this petition, the O'Farrell Government will reassess its illogical decision and give the go ahead to a project that benefits both the community and the environment.

"The projects of the Inner West Light Rail Extension and the GreenWay are inherently linked and must be built together."

Both MPs acknowledged the Inner West councils for their efforts in support of the GreenWay and thanked the Friends of the GreenWay and other community groups for their tireless work helping to collect thousands of signatures for the petition.