Photo credit: Transport for NSW
Western Sydney University researchers have watched on eagerly as Australia's total longest stretch of green track has come to life.
The initiative forms part of the NSW Government's $2.8 billion Stage 1 Parramatta Light Rail project, which will see 1.3 kilometres of green track installed across three sections of the alignment: Parramatta's Robin Thomas Reserve and Tramway Avenue, as well as the Cumberland Precinct.
Urban design experts from the University published a review into the viability of establishing the green track as part of the project in 2018.
Study author Associate Professor Sebastian Pfautsch from the School of Social Sciences said the green track project is a powerful example of applying progressive and modern urban design principles to help mitigate heat.
"The project represents a significant opportunity to demonstrate how responsible urban design can be implemented to simultaneously enhance local mobility and environmental sustainability," said Associate Professor Pfautsch.
"Our viability study confirmed that the green track will perform important environmental functions that improve the amenity and ecology of the local area."
Associate Professor Pfautsch explained that a green track is a vegetative layer composed of turf, grasses or groundcovers, planted into light rail track beds, and is commonly found in central European countries.
"The ecological benefits of green track beds include the potential for a reduced carbon footprint by replacing concrete, mitigate urban heat, reduce stormwater runoff, and increase biodiversity," he said.
"To maximise the benefit of the green track in Parramatta, our study identified the best design and plant species to provide good groundcover of the track bed that withstands the pressures of urban life while being low maintenance."
Associate Professor Pfautsch further highlighted that additional research about cooling and green space initiatives should go hand in hand with key infrastructure projects across Sydney's west.
"There's a real opportunity to bring together the community, researchers, industry and government to start addressing some of the pressing challenges in our region, including increasing heat and safeguarding and expanding critical greenspace," he said.
Recently recognised at the 2022 NSW AILA Landscape Architecture Awards, the green track research study won both the Infrastructure and Research, Policy and Communication categories. It has now been submitted to the national AILA Awards.
Parramatta Light Rail Stage 1 will connect Westmead to Carlingford via the Parramatta CBD and Camellia, and is expected to open in 2023.
Download and read 'Green Track for Parramatta Light Rail: A Review' here .
