State Government does not support Lavender Bay project
The Sydney Harbour High Line project, which would create walkways around the old railway lines at North Sydney, looks set to be cut by the State Government.
The High line, which has been worked on by local advocates Sydney Harbour HighLine Group (SHHG) in conjunction with various State departments for seveal years, was announced to great fan-fare by the previous premier Dominic Perrottet just weeks out from the March State Election. It was part of a series of funding announcements for the Lower North Shore made days before the government went into care-taker mode, seen by some as a last-minute pitch to voters.
North Shore MP Felicity Wilson recently asked a question in parliament of Transport Minister Jo Haylen about whether the government would proceed with the project.
Ms Haylen replied that the High Line was an ‘unfunded’ election promise of the previous government. The minister went on to say that the High Line would ‘have a serious impact on the operations of the T1 Western Line,’ which is the new Metro which will run from Hornsby, through North Sydney to the Sydney CBD. However, at the time of the announcement, then Premier Perrottet said there would be a ‘strategic business case’ to look at converting discussed railway tracks along the Milson Point foreshore.
SHHG president Ian Mutton, who is also a North Sydney councillor, said he was ‘staggered’ Jo Haylen had said the highline would interfere with the T1. Mr Mutton said the High Line would run ‘parallel’ to the railway lines and not interfere with the 3.3km walkway. “As recently as two months before the election, we were having discussions with Sydney Trains on costings,” Mr Mutton said. The advocate said he would be looking at ‘every option available,’ including private funding, to ensure the project proceeds. “I’d go up to Bunnings and get a wheelbarrow and just start levelling it out (if I was allowed to).
“It’s profoundly disappointing that a project that would deliver so much benefit for Sydney could be dropped without a scintilla of consultation.”
Ms Wilson, who has been a firm High Line supporter, told North Shore Living that she had invited Ms Haylen after her appointment as minister for a site visit “I’m eager to work constructively with the new NSW Government, irrespective of party lines, to pursue this bold vision.”