Yvonne Sydney

Burwood Council Sustainability Strategy

WalkSydney is pleased to make a submission on Sustainable Burwood Strategy.

WalkSydney is a community group working to make it easier, safer and more pleasant to walk in Sydney. With a growing population we need to ensure people can easily walk to public transport, local shops and services, and shared transport options and Burwood Council’s Sustainable Strategy provides a great opportunity to achieve these outcomes.

Summary of points:

  1. Prioritise good air quality by reducing motor vehicle emissions and improving pedestrian facilities.
  2. Prioritise quality pedestrian facilities to encourage walking and benefit community health and sustainable transport
  3. Incorporate strong accountability into the council’s sustainability strategy process

Prioritise good air quality by reducing motor vehicle emissions and improving pedestrian facilities.

  1. Pedestrianise (reduce motor traffic pollution) and/or widen the footpaths along Burwood Rd. See Committee for Sydney’s Reclaiming Sydney’s High Streets report which highlights opportunities to improve the livability of Sydney neighbourhoods. 
  1. Make walking and cycling safer to improve local air quality and make active transport more attractive and increase mode share. 
  1. Plant trees in median strips where possible to shade hard surfaces and reduce the urban heat effect

Transport for NSW Walking Space Guide 2020

Prioritise quality pedestrian facilities to encourage walking and benefit community health and sustainable transport

  1. Adopt a strong transport hierarchy policy, which prioritises pedestrians, cyclists, public transport, freight, private vehicles in order of benefit to the community. For example, the Waverley transport hierarchy policy, Waverley Council’s People, Movement & Places policy
  1. Adopt the Transport for NSW (TfNSW) policy that “every transport project that is funded by TfNSW must include provision for walking and cycling” and that this “must be delivered from the outset of every transport project” for Burwood Council transport projects. 
  1. Adopt and implement Government Architect’s Movement and Place framework focussing on placemaking of significant community locations (rather than road design) and provide a high level of service for pedestrians.
  1. Work with TfNSW to lower the speed limit throughout the LGA and investigate limiting through-traffic with traffic filters. 

Source: Future Transport 2056 and Greater Sydney Commission

Incorporate strong accountability into the council’s sustainability strategy process

  1. Include sustainability KPIs in the contract of the CEO
  1. Re-establish a Council/Community Environment and Sustainability committee/advisory group, to review policies and progress

Thank you for taking the time to read our feedback.

Yours sincerely,

WalkSydney