Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation


          A quick guide to The People’s Walk for Reconciliation
Sunday 28 May 2000

 Why?

The People’s Walk across the Harbour Bridge and day of free concerts at Darling Harbour are to celebrate the achievements of reconciliation so far and to make a statement that reconciliation is the work of all Australians.

When?

  • The People’s Walk starts at 8am on Sunday 28 May with a brief ceremony at North Sydney.
  • The last walkers will cross the Harbour Bridge just before 12 midday - no person will be permitted to cross the Bridge after midday.

Where?

  • The walk starts at North Sydney station and finishes at Darling Harbour.
  • All walkers will start at North Sydney. There will not be any access to the start of the Walk from the city side of the Bridge.
  • The Walk across the Bridge is 4.1 kms, north to south, via the Western Distributor to Darling Harbour.

 How?

  • To join the Walk you must register by phoning the

Corroboree 2000 People’s Walk Information and Registration Line:

1902 210 001. Calls will be charged at 55cents per minute.

  • Please walk at the allocated time given to you when you register.
  • Large groups can be registered by phoning 1800 060 266.
  • Please meet friends or your group away from the entrance of North Sydney Station. The Station will be busy and crowded. The closed section of the Pacific Highway, between Miller and Walker Streets, is the suggested meeting place for groups.
  • Wear good walking shoes, sunscreen if it’s sunny and wet weather clothing in case of rain.
  • Roller blades, skateboards, and bicycles are NOT permitted.

Transport

Travel to North Sydney station by public transport to start the Bridge Walk – it’s the only way to get there due to the Bridge and road closures.

CityRail trains, Sydney Buses & Sydney Ferries

  • CityRail services will leave every ten minutes from Central, Town Hall and Wynyard to North Sydney.
  • No access to start of Walk from Milson’s Point Station, only North Sydney station
  • Sydney Buses will operate scheduled services from Sydney’s northern suburbs to North Sydney; these bus services terminate at North Sydney where passengers will transfer to CityRail services for the city. Sydney Buses tickets will be honoured on CityRail services into the city.
  • The North Sydney bus terminus will be temporarily relocated to the Pacific Highway.
  • No State Transit buses or taxis will be able to get to North Sydney from the city – take the train from the city (Wynyard, Town Hall, Central) to North Sydney.
  • Sydney Ferries will run scheduled services from Circular Quay to Milson’s Point and McMahon’s Point- you will need to make the ten minute walk from these wharves to North Sydney station.
  • Call the Transport InfoLine on 131 500 or visit the transport website www.131500.com.au for more information on public transport in and around Sydney on Sunday 28 May.

Driving a minibus or a tourist bus/coach?

  • Groups travelling to the Walk in self-drive buses and mini-buses should park at a north shore railway station and take the train to North Sydney – there will be no parking at North Sydney.
  • Tourist buses and coaches should travel south along the Pacific Highway and set down only on the northern side of the Pacific Highway or the western side of Miller Street, North Sydney – no long term parking is available at this location for tourist buses and coaches.

Coming by private vehicle?

  • Please be aware, there is no organised event car parking available at North Sydney for the Walk.
  • If driving, park the car at your nearest railway station and take the train to North Sydney.

 Traffic & road closures

The Harbour Bridge and its approaches (Cahill Expwy, Bradfield Hwy, Western Distributor) will be progressively closed to all vehicles (including buses and taxis) from 6am, reopening by 3pm on Sunday 28 May

  • The Harbour Tunnel will be open and operating as per usual although motorists should expect significant delays
  • There may be significant traffic delays in and around the city due to the Bridge and road closures so please leave more time for your trip if you are planning to drive across Sydney on Sunday 28 May
  • Visit the RTA’s website at www.rta.nsw.gov.au and go the special events page for full road closure details and maps. These will also be published in the major metro papers in the weeks leading up to the event
  • Motorists are advised to take alternative routes, such as the Gladesville Bridge to avoid the approaches to the Bridge
  • Special Event Clearways will be provided along a number of streets in the Sydney CBD, North Sydney business district and the Greater Sydney Area, to help cater for the extra traffic generated by the event. The Clearways for this event will be in force between 1am and 4 pm on the 28 May 2000. A Special Event Clearway means you cannot stop your vehicle at the kerb during the times shown on the sign unless there is a medical emergency although buses, taxis and hire cars may stop to pick up and set down only. A Special Event Clearway is enforceable by the Police and an extra fine will also be imposed if the vehicle is towed away.

Access for people with disabilities 

  • Take a CityRail service from Wynyard or Town Hall Stations to Milsons Point.
  • At Wynyard, there is a lift to all platforms. There is also a lift to all platforms at Town Hall station. The concourse to George Street lift is also available at Town Hall.
  • Milsons Point station has a lift from the ground to platform level.
  • Sydney Buses will run a wheelchair accessible shuttle service every 15 minutes from Milsons Point railway station to North Sydney station from 7am until 12 noon on Sunday 28 May. Ordinary fares will apply on all of these services.
  • Once at the starting point of the People’s Walk, the route across the Harbour Bridge and down into Darling Harbour is an easy grade.
  • If you require more information on disability access at CityRail stations or on Sydney Buses, please visit the transport information site at www.131500.com.au or call the transport info line on 131 500.
  • For information on Darling Harbour access and facilities for people with disabilities, please call the Darling Harbour Visitor Information Centre on 9286 0111.

The Concerts at Darling Harbour

  • People’s Walk participants will be invited to make a gold coin donation for Reconciliation Australia, a new foundation established to continue the work of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation beyond 2001.
  • Free concerts and the day of celebration at Darling Harbour start at 9am and entertainment will continue through the day – check the Corroboree 2000 website www.reconciliation.org.au and your local media for updated details of the entertainment program which includes headline performers from around Australia.
  • The Darling Harbour concerts are alcohol free.
  • Dogs are not permitted within the Darling Harbour precinct.

More information

  • All of this information can be found on the Corroboree 2000 website at www.reconciliation.org.au or on the Corroboree 2000 People’s Walk Registration and Information Line: 1902 210 001.
  • Detailed information and maps showing road closures and traffic arrangements can be found at www.rta.nsw.gov.au.
  • Information on public transport – trains, buses and ferries - in and around Sydney on Sunday 28 May can be found at www.131500.com.au or by calling the Transport InfoLine on 131500.

 

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