GreenWay Enews December 2011

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December 2011

	Dear Visitor,
	I would like to thank everyone for their support of the GreenWay in its great and varied form. 2011 was a roller coaster of the a year. We had the bitter disappointment of the NSW State Government withdrawing the funding for the GreenWay trail, which the community, Friends of the GreenWay and Councils have been fighting hard to have reinstated. Over 7000 petitions have been signed, 2 rallies held and more than 300 letters have been written to the Government in support of the GreenWay. In 2011, our website recieved nearly 18,000 unique visitors. The groundswell of support for the GreenWay can not be ignored by the Government. The GreenWay is more than a shared path, it also connects people through shared values and interests. In 2011 we had some great GreenWay moments particular with the Arts , the Schools Program, the Festival and the Bushcare.These can be seen in the lead article. Well done everyone! Seasons Greetings to all our readers and supporters. Hopefully 2012 will be the year that the GreenWay is built! Ros Gibbons, GreenWay Coordinator

	Great GreenWay moments and legacies for 2011 Losing the funding for the GreenWay trail is a bitter disappointment but we should not lose sight of the great things that have been happening in the GreenWay over the last 12 months. The GreenWay is more than just a shared path. There have been some great GreenWay moments and legacies in 2011. These include: GreenWay Arts: It has been a great year for GreenWay arts- the mosaic at Lords Road has been completed, and there has been a host of other GreenWay related arts projects including Sketching the Gamut, GreenWay Arts prize/exhibition, GreenWay Blogspot and The GreenWay Playhouse, Artcycle; Read More Active travel strategy and community workshop What are the best initiatives to increase walking and cycling, and community engagement in the GreenWay catchment? The Cooks River to Iron Cove GreenWay shared pathway may have been deferred; however the GreenWay lives on and continues to build momentum. Come along to our second active transport community workshop on Wednesday 7 December from 6pm - 8pm at Ashfield Council to have your say. Download the Workshop Invitation. Read More 7,000 people have signed the petition- more needed We now have over 7000 signatures on the GreenWay petition. We are just short of the 10,000 required to demonstrate overwhelming community support for the GreenWay and have the deferral debated in the NSW parliament. So please consider downloading the petition and getting your friends, family, work colleagues and community to sign it. Read More 2011 GreenWay Festival Wrap Up Over the week long festivities hundreds of people attended 20 diverse events which catered to a range of age and interest groups across the corridor. The GreenWay Festival successfully showcased key elements of the GreenWay, including local community groups, current GreenWay Sustainability Projects, local history and biodiversity through walking and cycling tours, local artists and galleries, Eco Warrior activities with primary school students, urban bushcare and active transport. Read More Final bushcare days for 2011 GreenWay Bushcare will be meeting for its final working bee in 2011 on Sunday 11 December at Lords Road in Leichhardt. The Inner West Environment Group (IWEG) will have its last bushcare day on Sunday 18 December at Pigott Street, Dulwich Hill. Bushcare volunteers are asked to bring a hat and water bottle, and wear appropriate clothing and sturdy footwear. Gloves and tools will be provided. Check out the Events Calendar for more information or our Bushcare page page for information on becoming a bushcare volunteer. Milestones for Sustainability Project Over the past two years, the GreenWay Sustainability Project has worked with volunteers, schools, community groups and Councils to achieve some great milestones: More than 2,000 local native species have been planted in GreenWay bushcare sites More than 2,200 sq m of weeds have been removed from bushcare sites 40 volunteers have increased their skills through free TAFE bushcare training 80 community members have had their say about the future governance of the GreenWay at workshops; Read More