Build a Bridge Campaign

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You can support
the campaign and have your say about what a difference a bridge would make at https://actionnetwork.org/letters/build-a-bridge/.

The Build a Bridge campaign is timed to coincide with
Transport for NSW preparing its plan for the redevelopment of the North
Eveleigh site – the ideal location for such a bridge. The sale conditions of
South Eveleigh already included a provision for a bridge across the railway
line from South Eveleigh.

Over 500 people have signed the petition and sent letters to
the Transport Minister. The new Vice Chancellor at Sydney University has
written to FOE expressing his support for the bridge, Council at its meeting on
18 October received a copy of the petition signed by 500 people and Council
resolved unanimously that:

“Upon release of Transport for NSW’s Redfern-North Eveleigh State
Significant Precinct Study, the Chief Executive Officer be requested to closely
examine its feasibility study for new connections across the railway line and
provide feedback, with input from Councillors via the CEO Update; and

The Lord Mayor be requested to write to the Minister for Transport
requesting that the NSW Government:

(i) commit
to providing a pedestrian and cycling connection as part of the Redfern-North
Eveleigh renewal to connect communities in Darlington and Chippendale with
those in Erskineville, Redfern, Waterloo and Alexandria across the railway
line; and

(ii) collaborate
with the City, other key stakeholders in the area and the community throughout
that connectivity project.”

You can find out more about this issue in the SSH’s What a difference a bridge would make or Sydney Sentinel’s Local
groups campaign for pedestrian, bicycle bridge at Carriageworks.

Some Bridge History from 15 years ago

The August 2006 Redfern Waterloo Authority (RWA) Redfern
Waterloo Built Environment Plan (p23) shows potential pedestrian and cycle
connections at both Carriageworks and to the east of the site near Redfern
station.

The September 2006 RWA newsletter said:

Eveleigh Bridge Proposal at Carriageworks in September 2006

“The NSW Government’s vision of facilitating a research and innovation
zone stretching from the University of Sydney and UTS to the Australian
Technology Park will be enhanced by a proposal to build a new pedestrian and
cycle bridge to link the ATP and North Eveleigh (near the new contemporary
performing arts centre).

The RWA and its subsidiary company ATP have recently committed $6
million to the project, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2008.

The Built Environment Plan also proposes a second potential pedestrian
cycle bridge just to the west of Redfern Station. This proposal is currently
being considered by the RWA and RailCorp as part of the joint concept design
study for the redevelopment of Redfern Station.”

In April 2007 the RWA submitted a preliminary environmental
assessment for a pedestrian and cycle bridge between Carriageworks and South
Eveleigh near the Large Erecting Shop to the Department of Planning. You can
see that proposal here
on the Major
projects website for the Pedestrian and Cycle Bridge.

The RWA, under pressure from Rail, dropped the bridge near
Carriageworks and lodged a planning application for a bridge just to the west
of Redfern station. In the end the RWA did not proceed with either bridge, nor
with its North Eveleigh Masterplan of which a pedestrian and cycle bridge was a
key feature.

Fifteen years on with planning restarting for North
Eveleigh, overcoming the barrier caused by the rail corridor is back on the
community agenda. So join us and sign the petition.