I find grassed track as attractive as anyone else but putting the theory into practice seems to be a stumbling block which seems to behind some planners opposed to this.
The screen shots below came from a video I took at Box Hill a few months ago. Some of it seems to follow the best of Sydney traditions - If it grows, it grows. If not, too bad. And perhaps the undersides of passing trams stop it growing too tall.
Regards,
> On 17 May 2019, at 16:34, Greg Sutherland gregsutherland@...> wrote:
>
> Transport for NSW is now championing "Green Track for Parramatta".
> http://www.parramattalightrail.nsw.gov.au/news/green-track-parramatta-light-rail http://www.parramattalightrail.nsw.gov.au/news/green-track-parramatta-light-rail
> They have financially supported and distributed a University of Western Sydney technical report as part of this process
> https://researchdirect.westernsydney.edu.au/islandora/object/uws%3A48951 https://researchdirect.westernsydney.edu.au/islandora/object/uws%3A48951
> This is despite rejecting "Green Track" for the CSELR (Sydney Light rail!
>
> It would appear that they have lost faith in their consultants Parson Brinkerhoff (PB), now WSP since TfNSW accepted their "expert advice" in 2014 to solely use massed concrete through the Centennial Parklands, Randwick Racecourse and Anzac Parade/ Allison Road corridors of the CSELR.
>
> TfNSW also appears to now be accepting the validity of the 2015 report on "Green Track" prepared by the City of Sydney.
>
>
>
> The issue of green (grass) track was formally raised during the CSELR EIS process prior to the project being approved.
>
> Parsons Brinkerhoff (PB) TfNSW's consultant (now known as WSP) for the process noted:
>
> CBD AND SOUTH EAST LIGHT RAIL PROJECT
>
> SUBMISSIONS REPORT
>
> Incorporating Preferred Infrastructure Report
>
> Volume 1 – Main Volume
>
> March 2014
>
> See
>
> 5.5.6 Landscaping and public domainP5-73
>
> Summary of issues raised
>
> A summary of the issues raised regarding landscaping and the public domain follows:
>
> (snip)
>
> • Use grass instead of concrete in the park and roadside sections of the system as used
>
> elsewhere in the world.
>
> (snip)
>
>
> PB then stated their/TfNSW's endorsed reply
>
>
> Response
>
> P 5-75
>
> Consideration was given to grass bed track during the development of the definition design. While acknowledging that grass bed track could provide some benefits with regard to visual and landscape amenity along the alignment, the ongoing maintenance of the grass bed tracks, in particular watering requirements, was not considered to be economically viable or environmentally sustainable in the long term.
>
>
> So in2015 it could be said "PB (a US multinational) are still refusing to accept that outside the US the vast majority of modern light rail systems incorporate grass track sections wherever possible. Given that the tracks will traverse the Centennial Parklands, Randwick Racecourse and UNSW it is bizarre to not consult these and other bodies on how to make grass thrive economically in Australia."
>
> See also the attached report from the City of Sydney.
>
>
>
>
>
>
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> <2015 521089 Report - Grassed tracks in Wimbo Park_JUNE 2015.docx.pdf>