Louise Sauvage Pathway
Encyclopedia
Named in honour of Australian paralympic wheelchair racer Louise Sauvage
, the Pathway is the longest continuous section of pathway in Sydney Olympic Park
. As such, the pathway is suitable for walking and pushbikes, as well as wheelchairs.
, the former athletes' village
. Amenities for travellers are provided along the path, including six water fountains and two toilet facilities.
and the Western Motorway, passing the last remaining piece of virgin woodland in Sydney's Cumberland basin
. The Pathway also provides access to Newington Armory
as well as passing by some adjoining land, closed to all public access due to unexploded ordinances buried in the swamp.
Two of the former buildings of the Newington Arms Depot are accessed by the Pathway and no longer within the grounds of the Armory: Building 46, a renovated educational building operated by Energy Australia, and a former US Navy trench-style artillery bunker behind Newington
Precinct 3. These bunkers were serviced by narrow-gauge railway to carry the highly sensitive explosive shells; the rail tracks are still maintained, and many are openly accessible via the Pathway.
link to the Parramatta River
, whereas others such as the Nerawang Wetlands are artificial lakes created as part of the Sydney Olympic Park
environmental rejuvenation. The Bell Frog Boardwalk side-track provides access to some rare habitat of the Green and Golden Bell Frog
.
The Newington Nature Reserve contains a Turpentine Ironbark Margin Forest that survives intact in the same condition as it was before Sydney was colonised.
. The pathway forms an integral part of the route for sporting events such as the Sydney Spring Cycle.
For cross-city riding, many preferred routes will use the combination of Silverwater Road Bridge, River Walk and Louise Sauvage Pathway. Such routes include any travel from the Hills District
to the southern suburbs around Liverpool, and from Parramatta to the inner-western suburbs or Sydney Airport
via the Cooks River
Cycleway.
Louise Sauvage
Alix Louise Sauvage OAM is an Australian paralympic wheelchair racer.Sauvage is often regarded as the most renowned disabled sportswoman in Australia. She won two gold medals and a silver medal at the 2000 Sydney Paralympic games in front of a home crowd...
, the Pathway is the longest continuous section of pathway in Sydney Olympic Park
Sydney Olympic Park
Sydney Olympic Park is a suburb in western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Sydney Olympic Park is located 16 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Auburn Council....
. As such, the pathway is suitable for walking and pushbikes, as well as wheelchairs.
Facilities
The Pathway is two-lane, marked and sealed throughout, with numerous detours along its length, ranging from two-lane and marked, to one-lane sealed and an assortment of recognised and unrecognised unsealed paths. The pathway is only interrupted in two locations where the access roads cross into NewingtonNewington, New South Wales
Newington is a suburb in western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales Australia. Newington is located 19 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Auburn Council....
, the former athletes' village
Olympic Village
An Olympic Village is an accommodation centre built for an Olympic Games, usually within an Olympic Park or elsewhere in a host city. Olympic Villages are built to house all participating athletes, as well as officials, athletic trainers, and other staff. Since the Munich Massacre at the 1972...
. Amenities for travellers are provided along the path, including six water fountains and two toilet facilities.
Historical links
The Pathway provides a north-south link between the Parramatta RiverParramatta River
The Parramatta River is a waterway in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The Parramatta River is the main tributary of Sydney Harbour, a branch of Port Jackson, along with the smaller Lane Cove and Duck Rivers....
and the Western Motorway, passing the last remaining piece of virgin woodland in Sydney's Cumberland basin
Cumberland County, New South Wales
Cumberland County is a county in the State of New South Wales, Australia. Most of the Sydney metropolitan area is located within the County of Cumberland....
. The Pathway also provides access to Newington Armory
Newington Armory
The RAN Armament Depot Newington was a Royal Australian Navy armament depot at Newington, New South Wales, Australia.-Military Magazine:...
as well as passing by some adjoining land, closed to all public access due to unexploded ordinances buried in the swamp.
Two of the former buildings of the Newington Arms Depot are accessed by the Pathway and no longer within the grounds of the Armory: Building 46, a renovated educational building operated by Energy Australia, and a former US Navy trench-style artillery bunker behind Newington
Newington, New South Wales
Newington is a suburb in western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales Australia. Newington is located 19 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Auburn Council....
Precinct 3. These bunkers were serviced by narrow-gauge railway to carry the highly sensitive explosive shells; the rail tracks are still maintained, and many are openly accessible via the Pathway.
Environmental links
Numerous waterways and wetlands adjoin the Pathway and its linking paths. Some of the water bodies such as Haslams CreekHaslams Creek
Haslams Creek is located in Sydney, Australia. It flows through Sydney Olympic Park.-External links:***...
link to the Parramatta River
Parramatta River
The Parramatta River is a waterway in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The Parramatta River is the main tributary of Sydney Harbour, a branch of Port Jackson, along with the smaller Lane Cove and Duck Rivers....
, whereas others such as the Nerawang Wetlands are artificial lakes created as part of the Sydney Olympic Park
Sydney Olympic Park
Sydney Olympic Park is a suburb in western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Sydney Olympic Park is located 16 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Auburn Council....
environmental rejuvenation. The Bell Frog Boardwalk side-track provides access to some rare habitat of the Green and Golden Bell Frog
Green and Golden Bell Frog
The Green and Golden Bell Frog , also named the Green Bell Frog, Green and Golden Swamp Frog and Green Frog, is a ground-dwelling tree frog native to eastern Australia. Despite its classification and climbing abilities, it does not live in trees and spends almost all of its time close to ground level...
.
The Newington Nature Reserve contains a Turpentine Ironbark Margin Forest that survives intact in the same condition as it was before Sydney was colonised.
Recreation and Events
Each year in September the pathway is closed for one day to make way for long-distance bicyclists travelling through Olympic ParkSydney Olympic Park
Sydney Olympic Park is a suburb in western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Sydney Olympic Park is located 16 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Auburn Council....
. The pathway forms an integral part of the route for sporting events such as the Sydney Spring Cycle.
For cross-city riding, many preferred routes will use the combination of Silverwater Road Bridge, River Walk and Louise Sauvage Pathway. Such routes include any travel from the Hills District
Hills District (Sydney)
Hills District or The Hills is a general term for the north-western suburbs of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The Hills District is also referred to as The Sydney Hills and The Hills Shire...
to the southern suburbs around Liverpool, and from Parramatta to the inner-western suburbs or Sydney Airport
Sydney Airport
Sydney Airport may refer to:* Sydney Airport, also known as Kingsford Smith International Airport, in Sydney, Australia* Sydney/J.A. Douglas McCurdy Airport, in Nova Scotia, Canada...
via the Cooks River
Cooks River
The Cooks River is a 23 kilometre long urban waterway of south-western Sydney, New South Wales, Australia emptying into Botany Bay. The course of the river has been altered to accommodate various developments along its shore...
Cycleway.