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Walkable Western Sydney – Why Footpaths Are More Than Just Concrete
Walkable Western Sydney – Why Footpaths Are More Than Just Concrete
In Greater Western Sydney, too many of our streets still lack basic footpaths, safe crossings, or shaded walkways. This isn’t just an inconvenience — it’s a barrier to health, safety, and community life.
Walkable streets are often taken for granted in inner-city areas. But in our region, missing footpaths mean parents pushing prams on the road, older people stuck at home, and kids crossing busy roads to get to school.
That’s not fair, and it’s not safe.
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The Bigger Picture: Walkability as Cost of Living Relief
The Bigger Picture: Walkability as Cost of Living Relief
Walkability is about more than nice streets — it’s a cost-of-living solution:
When walking is safe and easy, families rely less on cars.
Reduced car use means lower fuel and maintenance costs.
Safe local routes give kids independence and parents peace of mind.
Walking supports small local businesses — people spend more in their neighbourhoods when they can walk to them.
This is why walkability sits at the heart of our Fair Share Campaign: it’s about equal access to safety, health, and opportunity.
What Needs to Change
What Needs to Change
Our advocacy asks are simple:
Fund missing footpaths and safe crossings, especially near schools, shops, and public transport.
Plant more trees and install shade structures so walking is possible year-round.
Ensure every new housing development includes walkable street design from day one — not as an afterthought.
Learning from Global Best Practice
Learning from Global Best Practice
Cities around the world show what’s possible:
Barcelona’s “superblocks” give priority to pedestrians and cyclists while reducing car dominance.
Portland’s 20-minute neighbourhood model ensures everyone can reach most daily needs within a 20-minute walk.
Greater Western Sydney deserves this too — and it’s achievable if government funding is distributed based on need, not postcode privilege.
Fact: Greater Western Sydney has 2.6M+ people, is fast-growing and diverse, yet gets less funding, longer commutes, and fewer services — proving the need for a Fair Share.
What We’re Doing About It
What We’re Doing About It
GWSAN has launched our Transport Access & Walkable Cities micro-campaign to highlight the link between footpaths, health, safety, and equity. We’re mapping missing connections, gathering community stories, and making submissions to ensure walkability becomes a funding priority.
GWSAN has launched our Transport Access & Walkable Cities micro-campaign to highlight the link between footpaths, health, safety, and equity. We’re mapping missing connections, gathering community stories, and making submissions to ensure walkability becomes a funding priority.
We’ll also continue to tie walkability to our other Fair Share fights — housing, transport, and health. Because when streets are safer and more connected, everything works better.
We’ll also continue to tie walkability to our other Fair Share fights — housing, transport, and health. Because when streets are safer and more connected, everything works better.
What you can do
What you can do
Join the conversation: Share your views on our LinkedIn page.
Contact decision-makers: Send this article to your local councillor or MP to highlight community support for smarter housing options.
Stay informed: Sign up for our updates to get the latest on housing policy changes, community forums, and advocacy campaigns.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Fair share isn’t just about big-ticket projects — it’s about the everyday basics that make life safe and liveable. Footpaths and walkability should never be a luxury; they are a right. Let’s make Greater Western Sydney walkable, together.
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We’d love to hear your thoughts on this topic.
Continue the discussion on LinkedIn
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GWSAN works across disciplines, sectors, and lived realities. We believe lasting change happens when community knowledge, academic insight, and policy influence are brought together with purpose and respect.
We collaborate with:
Community members and lived experience advocates, particularly young people, women, and culturally diverse residents who have firsthand knowledge of the barriers Western Sydney faces
Local councils and government agencies committed to planning reform, housing justice, and community wellbeing
Researchers and academic institutions working at the intersection of urban policy, health equity, and systems thinking
Community housing providers, health organisations, and frontline services who understand how policy failures show up in everyday lives
Urban planners, valuers, and infrastructure professionals who are ready to embed prevention and equity into how cities grow
Advocacy organisations and networks aligned with our values of justice, collaboration, and regional empowerment
Our approach is not to duplicate what others are doing, but to connect, amplify, and align. We look for partners who are ready to move beyond talk and help rewire the systems that shape housing, health, and opportunity in Greater Western Sydney.
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