Prospect Creek cycleway
| Prospect Creek cycleway | |
|---|---|
 The shared cycleway as it passes west through Gipps Road Park | |
| Length | 7.3 kilometres (4.5 mi) |
| Location | Western Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Established | Late 1980s/early 1990s |
| Trailheads |
|
| Use | Cycling; pedestrians |
| Elevation change | 23 metres (75 ft) |
| Highest point | 35 metres (115 ft) AHD |
| Lowest point | 12 metres (39 ft) AHD |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Season | All seasons |
| Sights | Prospect Creek |
| Hazards | Flooding, snakes, falling trees |
The Prospect Creek cycleway is a 7.3-kilometre-long (4.5 mi)[1] shared-use path for cyclists and pedestrians in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia that is generally aligned with Prospect Creek and the surrounding swamp oak forest. Also known as Prospect Creek Recreational Shared Cycle Path and Prospect Creek Corridor Cycleway,[2] the cycleway links to the Cumberland City Council network and Fairfield CBD from Fairfield Road in the southeast to the Prospect Nature Reserve in the northwest.[3]
Predominantly off-road and within a riparian zone, its western terminus lies at Widemere Road in Wetherill Park and the eastern terminus is at Ace Avenue in Fairfield. A parallel path begins from Cumberland Highway at Smithfield.[4][5]
History
[edit]The track that traverses the northern strip of Rosford Street Reserve, from Gipps Road to Long Street Road (at Long Street Park), was the first route established in the late 1980s. During the mid 1990s, the cycleway/walkway was extended to the southeast, from Long Park to Cumberland Highway near Kenyons Bridge at Smithfield. Later, by the early 2000s, the route was finally expanded to Fairfield Road, Fairfield.[6]
Route
[edit]
Running mostly alongside Prospect Creek, this 6.8-kilometre-long (4.2 mi) cycleway connects Fairfield to the Prospect Reservoir, joining onto the Parramatta to Liverpool rail trail and the Lower Prospect Canal Reserve cycleway at each end. In the northwest, the cycleway starts from Widemere Road in Wetherill Park, with bollards installed at the entry to prevent vehicle-ramming incidents.[3]
Afterwards, the path mostly travels through parkland and the riparian bushland of the creek, passing the southeastern periphery of Prospect Nature Reserve in Pemulwuy, Gipps Road Park in Greystanes, Rosford Street Reserve and Long Street Park in Smithfield, Vineyard Reserve, Solo Reserve, Bernadette Park, Cawarra Park, and Fairfield Road Park in the southeast. It is almost entirely off-road, except for a short on-road section along Douglas Street and Ace Avenue. Despite its length, only three roads are crossed, Fairfield Road, Cumberland Highway, and Gipps Road to the northwest, with grade separated underpasses for each road.[1]
Two parallel paths exist on the north and south sides of Prospect Creek; the former traverses within Cumberland Council on the creek's northside, which is the longest-stretching one and concludes at Fairfield Road in Yennora; the later passes within Fairfield City Council at the creek's southside, where it begins from Cumberland Highway and ends at Ace Avenue.[4] The path on the southside (Fairfield) provides the best through route to the Rail Trail and Fairfield CBD. At points along the path local councils have created Aboriginal information sites that are well worth stopping at. The Gipps Road in Smithfield underpass can fill with water during heavy rain, however an at grade crossing nearby can be used.[3]
Accessibility
[edit]The cycleway provides north to south accessibility along Gipps Road and Warren Road, and west to east accessibility alongside Prospect Creek. There is even accessibility to The Horsley Drive. As it heads to Cawarra Park and Crosby Reserve, it will provide numerous connections to the nearby residential roads. Signs will also help cyclists or walkers to traverse towards either Fairfield railway station or Yennora railway station.[3]
Via Hyland Road, the shared-path is linked with the Western Sydney Parklands–Canal Reserve cycleway in the northwest at Greystanes, one the east side of the detention basin, providing accessibility to Prospect Hill and Prospect Nature Reserve in the north. Access to the Canal Reserve cycleway requires passing the Liverpool–Parramatta T-way.[1]
Gallery
[edit]-
The underpass at Fairfield Road, Fairfield -
The path at Bernadette Park, Fairfield -
The natural ambiance of the cycleway in Cawarra Park, Fairfield (Prospect Creek in view) -
A view of a large rubber fig as the cycleway meanders around Bernadette Park -
The cycleway at Rosford Street Reserve, Smithfield -
A sign indicating the shared cycleway in Smithfield -
Toppled tree on the cycleway in Smithfield, one of the path's hazards
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c Widemere Rd, Wetherill Park to Ace Ave, Fairfield NSW 2165 (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
- ^ "Prospect Creek Open Space Corridor" (PDF). Cumberland City Council. June 2004. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
- ^ a b c d "Fairfield City Council Bike Plan" (PDF). Fairfield City Council. June 2021. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
- ^ a b Smithfield Rd, Smithfield NSW 2164 to Fairfield, New South Wales 2165 (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
- ^ "Cycling". Fairfield City Council. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
- ^ "Historical Imagery". New South Wales Government. Retrieved 23 July 2025.