Greystanes canal / western sydney regional park hazards

[g-boaf]

I reached out to the office of Julia Finn MP with my concerns and thoughts. We will see what comes of it.

But the canal and Prospect Dam both need improvements.

Canal needs lighting to make it safer at night and early morning and stopping the motorbikes, while Prospect Dam either needs to be open earlier and later or replace it totally with a share-path along the Great Western Hwy from Cumberland Highway (or from the Aldi at Centenary Road) running all the way to the path at Wallgrove Road (and the M7 path).

[g-boaf]

Prospect Dam where the path goes downhill past the car park and picnic area - watch out at the bottom.

Someone is leaving the security gate opened across the path (where the bollard is). Two days in a row for this.

[caneye]

is it just me or did those manhole covers (along the canal) lift up more in the past few months?

There are so many covers that appear to have a sketchy concrete edge that if you hit at the wrong angle, could easily cause you to come off your bike at speed.

[g-boaf]

They don't seem any worse to me than they've previously been and I'm along there quite a lot.

I did have some old guy riding on the wrong side today, two times actually. I couldn't see any reason why he was on the wrong side, no obstacles or anything else obvious. I didn't say anything since he moved back in plenty of time.

[recumbenteer]

is it just me or did those manhole covers (along the canal) lift up more in the past few months?

There are so many covers that appear to have a sketchy concrete edge that if you hit at the wrong angle, could easily cause you to come off your bike at speed.

No, it's not you, the path is sinking, thus giving the appearance of those lids rising. They are inspection access points to the underground pipes.

In my velomobile there is barely enough room to miss the edges of them ... the clearance is so tight that it's safer to clip them, than try to avoid them and drop off the edge of the path. Doing this gives the velo a hefty kick to the side at speed...very uncomfortable. In the velo I have to find a clear, safe path for three wheel tracks, unlike an upright where your track is 32mm wide, in the velo it's 800mm.

The same goes for any edge/joint on ALL paths in Sydney...800mm is a fair width to find a nice ride through, anything that is remotely out of alignment makes for a rougher ride. Especially where tree roots are uplifting/cracking the surface.


Any "repairs" that have been done on them have just been a sloppy application of concrete or asphalt....There's only a couple of them that have been remediated correctly.

[g-boaf]

is it just me or did those manhole covers (along the canal) lift up more in the past few months?

There are so many covers that appear to have a sketchy concrete edge that if you hit at the wrong angle, could easily cause you to come off your bike at speed.

No, it's not you, the path is sinking, thus giving the appearance of those lids rising. They are inspection access points to the underground pipes.

In my velomobile there is barely enough room to miss the edges of them ... the clearance is so tight that it's safer to clip them, than try to avoid them and drop off the edge of the path. Doing this gives the velo a hefty kick to the side at speed...very uncomfortable. In the velo I have to find a clear, safe path for three wheel tracks, unlike an upright where your track is 32mm wide, in the velo it's 800mm.

The same goes for any edge/joint on ALL paths in Sydney...800mm is a fair width to find a nice ride through, anything that is remotely out of alignment makes for a rougher ride. Especially where tree roots are uplifting/cracking the surface.


Any "repairs" that have been done on them have just been a sloppy application of concrete or asphalt....There's only a couple of them that have been remediated correctly.

I met the guy who did those temporary fixes on the canal path a while ago. The asphalt was to try and make the bumps less harsh and a bit safer.

It is better than it was. Supposedly the whole lot will be redone and extended further east. I suppose in 50 years time it will be finished, provided nobody objects. Apparently the proposal was adopted, but then I saw there was to be another consultation. I suppose the consultations will use up all the budget.

[g-boaf]

Be careful at the top of Prospect Dam in the area of that bridge at the top, in the region just before it and after it, a damn large kangaroo has taken up residence. Three days in a row I've seen it there - the same one.

It isn't particularly scared and seems to stay put but just give it room.

Also just past the bridge (at the top) there is a lot of mud and gravel across the path and it's pretty slippery there.

[g-boaf]

After the road crossing at Reconciliation Road going up to Prospect Dam (on the path) a car has been dumped and burned there. Looked like some crew-cab ute (Amarok or Ranger?).

Police were there this afternoon taking detailed photos and said it was a crime scene. So I guess some getaway car...

You cannot get through there at all.