Latest news with #HaroldScruby
The Age
26-06-2025
- Business
- The Age
This Sydney landmark is crossed 16,000 times a day. It's about to get a $60m makeover
In 2018, work started on a $23 million restoration project to replace damaged ironbark piers – some that were well below the waterline – and truss sections over five years. There was also water damage from digging through the deck for the bridge's now-defunct monorail pylons that had to be repaired. The bridge is heavily used by commuters, residents and tourists. Tensions between pedestrians and cyclists prompted authorities to turn it into a shared zone with a 10km/h speed limit. Bicycle NSW chief executive Peter McLean is among advocates for a separated or marked cycleway. 'I think most of the funding in this year's budget will be soaked up for maintenance and rehabilitation of the asset itself which we won't necessarily see, but nevertheless it's important to its structural integrity going forward. We want it to be there in another hundred years' time. 'It's always going to be an area of challenge because of that heavy utilisation and the tourist component. I'd always caution bicycle riders to be very vigilant and cautious around there.' Pedestrian Council of Australia chairman Harold Scruby agreed: 'I think the Pyrmont Bridge should have a separated cycleway or cyclists should have to dismount. It's a pedestrian thoroughfare.' Plans to restore the bridge coincide with a wave of residential and commercial projects destined to draw more people and concentrate attention west of Sydney's city centre in coming decades. Developer Mirvac is forging ahead with its $2 billion redevelopment of the nearby Harbourside shopping centre, with a 42-storey apartment tower, offices, restaurants, bars and shops. The project includes a recently approved 3500 square metre waterfront garden to be built adjacent to the bridge. There are also plans, which the state government is assessing, to erect a 40-storey office complex at the opposite end of Pyrmont Bridge as part of the $650 million Cockle Bay Wharf redevelopment. Loading The Pyrmont Peninsula Place Strategy, which was finalised in 2020 to guide development for the next two decades, earmarked the area for 4000 homes for 8000 residents and 23,000 new jobs. Also under construction are the Pyrmont metro station and the new Sydney Fish Market at Glebe. About 1500 apartments will be built on the old fish market site on the Pyrmont side of Blackwattle Bay. McLean said: 'The quickest way of getting to those new key amenities or transport hubs will be walking or riding. Pyrmont Bridge is also just a stunning, beautiful walk. It's only going to continue to grow in popularity from an active transport, recreational and a tourism point of view.'
Sydney Morning Herald
26-06-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
This Sydney landmark is crossed 16,000 times a day. It's about to get a $60m makeover
In 2018, work started on a $23 million restoration project to replace damaged ironbark piers – some that were well below the waterline – and truss sections over five years. There was also water damage from digging through the deck for the bridge's now-defunct monorail pylons that had to be repaired. The bridge is heavily used by commuters, residents and tourists. Tensions between pedestrians and cyclists prompted authorities to turn it into a shared zone with a 10km/h speed limit. Bicycle NSW chief executive Peter McLean is among advocates for a separated or marked cycleway. 'I think most of the funding in this year's budget will be soaked up for maintenance and rehabilitation of the asset itself which we won't necessarily see, but nevertheless it's important to its structural integrity going forward. We want it to be there in another hundred years' time. 'It's always going to be an area of challenge because of that heavy utilisation and the tourist component. I'd always caution bicycle riders to be very vigilant and cautious around there.' Pedestrian Council of Australia chairman Harold Scruby agreed: 'I think the Pyrmont Bridge should have a separated cycleway or cyclists should have to dismount. It's a pedestrian thoroughfare.' Plans to restore the bridge coincide with a wave of residential and commercial projects destined to draw more people and concentrate attention west of Sydney's city centre in coming decades. Developer Mirvac is forging ahead with its $2 billion redevelopment of the nearby Harbourside shopping centre, with a 42-storey apartment tower, offices, restaurants, bars and shops. The project includes a recently approved 3500 square metre waterfront garden to be built adjacent to the bridge. There are also plans, which the state government is assessing, to erect a 40-storey office complex at the opposite end of Pyrmont Bridge as part of the $650 million Cockle Bay Wharf redevelopment. Loading The Pyrmont Peninsula Place Strategy, which was finalised in 2020 to guide development for the next two decades, earmarked the area for 4000 homes for 8000 residents and 23,000 new jobs. Also under construction are the Pyrmont metro station and the new Sydney Fish Market at Glebe. About 1500 apartments will be built on the old fish market site on the Pyrmont side of Blackwattle Bay. McLean said: 'The quickest way of getting to those new key amenities or transport hubs will be walking or riding. Pyrmont Bridge is also just a stunning, beautiful walk. It's only going to continue to grow in popularity from an active transport, recreational and a tourism point of view.'
West Australian
14-05-2025
- Health
- West Australian
Capel Primary School to once again take part in national initiative to support health and road safety
Primary schools around the South West will take part in a national initiative to support road safety and physical activity on Friday. National Walk Safely to School Day — now in its 26th year — is an event championed by the Pedestrian Council Australia for all primary schools across the country and aims to promote the health and environmental benefits of children walking to school. According to the council, regular walking has a favourable impact on children's cognitive and academic performance, encourages positive environmental action and reduces car dependency and dangerous traffic congestion around schools. Chief executive Harold Scruby said the national initiative also promoted healthy eating and encouraged schools and P&Cs to host a healthy breakfast on the day. 'The extremely disturbing childhood obesity epidemic continues to affect one in four children at critical levels across Australia,' he said. 'The best exercise for all Australians is walking regularly. 'Children need at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day. We should encourage them to take a walk before school, during and at the end of their day.' Capel Primary School is set to take part, something principal Darren Simpson said they had been doing for many years. 'The school community proudly comes together whenever we promote the healthy culture of walking to school,' he said. On Friday, children will be encouraged to include a walk at the beginning of the day, at lunch time and on the way home, in the hope of building regular walking into their daily routine.
