Blacktown City Mayor Brad Bunting has backed calls for the NSW Government to explore better access to Western Sydney waterways and improve recreational and lifestyle opportunities.
Mayor Bunting praised the Western Sydney Rivers Taskforce's report 'Our Rivers', saying it had exciting ideas such as greater access to Prospect Reservoir that deserved investigation.
"The ideas show what might be possible with a bit of vision and collaboration," he said.
"In Blacktown City, Prospect Reservoir is a vast area of natural beauty under-utilised by our growing community - there is a great opportunity there.
"Greater access to the reservoir and other waterways would encourage exercise and make for healthier, happier communities."
Cr Bunting said people in Western Sydney deserved greater access to waterways, like people who lived near the coast.
"I am keen to support the NSW Government in exploring what we can do to deliver more opportunities for our community," he said.
Blacktown City Council has previously proposed a pedestrian and cycle path around the reservoir, linking it with Western Sydney Parklands.
The aims of the Western Sydney Rivers Taskforce, of which Council is a member, include:
- ensuring Western Sydney residents have access to clean and healthy waterways for swimming and recreation within 30 minutes of their home
- revitalising and activating river foreshore areas in our urban centres, to support the economic and social wellbeing of our city
- protecting and improving environmentally sensitive waterways
- embedding First Nations People's knowledge and involvement in the planning and management of waterways
Improving community satisfaction with natural waterways is one of the aims of Council's Integrated Water Strategy (2020), which was developed with the community.
