More green recreational spaces for councils in Greater Sydney and the Central Coast

The NSW Government is making $3.25 million in grant funding available via the Metropolitan Greenspace Program (MGP) for councils in Greater Sydney and the Central Coast to help improve liveability with open space projects.

Eligible projects include playgrounds, walking tracks, pedestrian and cycleways and recreation facilities.

Applicants can also access up to $75,000 for community gardens, bush care schemes and waterway enhancements to support health and wellbeing in areas with priority housing growth.

The Metropolitan Greenspace Program (MGP) commenced, under the Wran Government in 1983, and since 1990, more than $56 million has been provided to more than 681 projects.

Further funding of $250,000 is also available to Greater Sydney councils as part of the Places to Roam Community Gardens program.

A recent recipient of the program is the Pemulwuy Community Garden, which opened late last year with wheelchair-friendly pathways and 16 raised garden beds for the planting of vegetables, fruits and flowers.

The new garden space has complemented Cumberland City Council’s three existing community gardens.

Small-scale projects are also encouraged with successful applications selected on merit, including how easily they can be delivered and community benefits.

An independent panel of experts will assess applications against each program’s key objectives.

NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully advised “we already have some incredible accessible green and open spaces across Greater Sydney and the Central Coast but it’s vital that we keep investing in these great programs.

“Greater Sydney and the Central Coast is growing, and while we’re focused on making sure we provide enough of the right kind of housing to suit everybody’s needs, we need to compliment this with the right infrastructure including green, open public space.”

For more information and program guidelines visit Metropolitan Greenspace Program or Places to Roam.