Media Release Sydney should build on the phenomenal popularity of the Bay Run, the GreenWay and the Spit to Manly walk with major new active recreation superhighways across Western Sydney.
Breathable Density, a new report from independent think tank Committee for Sydney, makes the case for stitching together a network of interconnected parks, waterways, streets and active recreation spaces so Sydneysiders can get active and connect with their communities.
Estelle Grech, Planning Policy Director at the Committee for Sydney, said: “Sydney already punches above its weight when it comes to its natural environment. We’ve got the harbour, beautiful rivers and creeks, and some hugely popular active recreation routes – we just need to do a better job of connecting it all together.”
“As we build the housing Sydney desperately needs, we need to build the recreation opportunities to match. The good news is that some of the lowest hanging fruit is already in public hands, it’s just locked behind fences.
“A network of recreation superhighways is how we unlock it, and that’s what we’re calling for – routes where walkers, runners, kids on scooters, bike riders and commuters can get out in nature while getting from A to B.
“Done well, a network like this would give every Sydneysider – not just the leafy suburbs in the east – the kind of active recreation links that get you from the front gate and into a city full of parks, pools, rivers and wherever else you want to get to.
“If we want to better connect all Sydneysiders, there are two major recreation superhighways that need to get off the ground.
“The Prospect to Port recreation superhighway would see a 35km stretch that cuts right through the heart of Sydney, starting at Western Sydney Parklands, moving down the Prospect Pipeline, along the Cooks River and ending at Kingsford Smith Airport.
“The other major route is a 25km north-south connection running from the Georges River to Parramatta River along Salt Pan Creek, Duck Creek and Duck River. The Dragons to Eels Riverway.”
One of the key recommendations in the report is for the creation of the Prospect to Port and Georges to Parramatta River recreation superhighways which will benefit over 400,000 Sydneysiders:
- 92,000 people live within a 5-minute walk of the Prospect to Port superhighway, 240,000 within a 15-minute walk or 5-minute bike ride
- Almost 96,000 people live within a 5-minute walk of the Dragons to Eels Riverway, over 160,000 live within a 15-minute walk or 5-minute bike ride.
Darcy Byrne, Mayor of Inner West Council, said: “The Inner West GreenWay shows exactly what can happen when we invest in green infrastructure.
“The GreenWay has been going gangbusters with thousands of people moving along it since it opened.
“Not only do these recreation superhighways improve pedestrian connectivity and give people incredible access to nature, they’re also economic drivers.
“Since the GreenWay opened, nearby businesses have seen a massive uptick in trade.
“More GreenWay’s across Sydney will have a similar positive impact on our whole city.”
Broader recommendations in the report, which makes the case for bringing breathable density to life, include:
- More places to swim and play in our big parks, bringing cooling and recreation closer to home
- Closing Sydney’s green gap and heat gap together, directing new canopy to the hottest, lowest-canopy suburbs
- Safe and shaded school streets so more kids can walk or bike, cutting traffic and lifting air quality around our schools
- Greening benchmarks for new buildings, delivering fresh air, light and more canopy in new apartment buildings.
Read the full Breathable Density report: https://sydney.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Committee-for-Sydney-Breathable-Density-July-2026.pdf
Images and renders available here: Breathable Density