Two different grasses are being tested on a stretch of 鈥榞reen track鈥� as part of the project, which will connect Westmead to Carlingford via Parramatta in New South Wales.
Minister for transport Andrew Constance said the first piece of green track, which involves planting between and beside the tracks, has been laid in Rosehill as part of a 12-month prototype testing process.
鈥淲e鈥檙e employing the latest research and technology to embrace grass track as an aesthetic and sustainable urban design solution,鈥� he said. 鈥淕reen track looks great and is good for the environment, so it鈥檚 exciting to see how it will take shape in the public domain.鈥�
Green track will feature in the Cumberland Hospital heritage precinct, Robin Thomas Reserve and Tramway Avenue, creating up to 1km of landscaped light rail.
The 12-metre long prototype will trial two different grasses to test their growth rate and durability, as well as experiment with soil layers and depths.
Parramatta Light Rail programme director Anand Thomas said the trial will help identify how green track will perform along the alignment and is part of Transport for NSW鈥檚 plan to help 鈥榞reen鈥� Parramatta, including at least 3,500 new trees to create shade in some of the region鈥檚 hottest streets.
鈥淕reen track contributes to increased biodiversity, noise reduction and urban cooling which are great outcomes for the people who live and work in the local area,鈥� said Thomas. 鈥淭his trial will enable us to see which grass type and irrigation system will be most suitable for our existing local landscapes, parks and streets.鈥�
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