Taxpayers will pay $15million for footpaths to be widened to allow social-distancing - but critics claim the plan will increase traffic congestion
- The NSW government will give councils $15million in grants to widen footpaths
- It comes as more people flock to exercise tracks amid lockdown restrictions
- Councils can apply for $100,000 or $1m for temporary/medium-term projects
- It will be trialled on George Street, Parramatta Park, and Liverpool's Railway St
- Opposition has slammed the proposal claiming it will cause traffic congestion
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
Taxpayers will pay $15million for footpaths to be widened to allow for social distancing to be maintained amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Announcing the plan on Friday, the New South Wales government said the 'Streets as Shared Spaces' program would help councils provide more space for people to walk, cycle and exercise safely.
It comes as more people have been taking to popular tracks as lockdown restrictions limit activities.
NSW Planning Minister Rob Stokes COVID-19 pandemic had significantly increased the demand for easy and safe access to public spaces.
The NSW government has announced $15million dollars will be injected into widening footpaths as more people flock to exercise tracks in response to activity restrictions. Pictured are walkers and cyclists on The Bay Path in Sydney on April 20, 2020
'Over the course of this terrible pandemic… it’s made us recognise those freedoms that we’ve previously taken for granted that are now under a little bit of threat,' he said, 7News reports.
'Those are things like the capacity to go for a walk, to go for a ride, to enjoy our local streetscape, to enjoy our local neighbourhood and to take in the beauty of our surrounds.
'This grant opportunity is all about giving the opportunity for local councils and local communities to work together to find ways of using our roads to join people together.'
Councils will have until June 10 to apply for grants of up to $100,000 for temporary projects such as widening footpaths and cycle lanes and up to $1 million for medium-term projects such as extra crossing points, wider kerbs and lower speed limit trials.
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The plan will be trialled in three locations, which include an extension of George Street's car-free zone in Sydney's CBD, a new pedestrian-only boulevard behind Liverpool's Railway Street and a 'people's loop' in Parramatta Park.
But the opposition slammed the proposal, claiming it would increase traffic congestion as the addition space cuts into the space for roads.
'The reality is Sydney is always going to be a city that is driven by cars,' Labour MP Ryan Park told reporters on Friday.
Mr Stokes said the 'pedestrianisation' project would not cause issues as there is a lot of space that could be utilised without impacting traffic flow.
He added that more people would likely switch their travel routines in favour of walking and cycling when the pandemic ends.
Councils will be able to apply for grants of up to $100,000 for temporary projects and up to $1 million for medium-term projects. A family is pictured exercising along The Bay Run last month
When asked about congestion and safety on inner-west Sydney's popular Bay Run, Mr Stokes told reporters on Friday the state government had suggested to Inner West Council it consider transforming the loop into a one-way track.
He encouraged the council to consider applying for signage under the grant program.
'We do have to do things in the short-term to make sure footpaths and popular running tracks that we already have work efficiently and practically in the face of the pandemic,' he said.
Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said she was pleased by the George Street extension plan.
'With new street trees, planter boxes, outdoor dining, seating and pedestrianisation, people were already taking back and enjoying George Street before COVID-19 hit,' Ms Moore said in a statement on Friday.
'When the crisis passes, it will once again be a place to linger and gather rather than just hurrying through.'
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