A $200,000 state government grant will help Sutherland Shire Council upgrade The Esplanade between North Cronulla and Wanda beaches.
The council plans to spend $1million on the work and a further $1million to extend the footpath-cycleway to new playing fields beyond the Greenhills Beach development.
A NSW Department of Planning and Infrastructure statement said $200,000 was allocated under the metropolitan greenspace program.
The project would ‘‘improve access to beach facilities and develop the regional trail on the edge of Cronulla State Park, connecting Marine Esplanade and Don Lucas Reserve’’.
The shire will also benefit from a $10,000 grant to Kogarah and Rockdale councils for stage one planning of the Great Kai’mia Way cycle path.
It would involve the development of ‘‘a detailed concept plan for 25 kilometres of cycle paths, which will link open space areas and provide access for cyclists from Sutherland to Kogarah and Hurstville’’.
‘‘The project will improve bicycle access to several regionally significant public spaces, such as Carss Bush Park,’’ the department said.
Launched in 2004 by then Planning Minister Craig Knowles, the Great Kai’mia Way was described as ‘‘a vision for integrating positive environmental and social outcomes in the catchments of Botany Bay and the Georges and Woronora rivers’’.
Sutherland Shire Environment Centre and Georges River Environmental Alliance combined to promote the project, which was to involve more than 200 kilometres of sustainable walking tracks and cycleways, linking Botany Bay, Woronora Valley, large parts of southern and western Sydney and the Illawarra Escarpment.
Kai’mia is the Aboriginal Dreaming story of Botany Bay and the Georges River catchment and refers to the spectacular Gymea Lily, the symbol of the region.
