We all know the great things Parramatta has to offer as the ‘Capital of Western Sydney’, but we should never rest on our laurels and be afraid to move to the next level as our city continues to grow.
The study by UDIA NSW noted a key area that is often overlooked – the potential for Urban Renewal, an area where Parramatta leads the way.
The past successes of urban renewal in Pyrmont, Homebush Bay and Newington are good examples of what is possible, but none of these areas have the potential of Parramatta, a complete city, with the foundations for growth and opportunity that are unsurpassed in Western Sydney.
With the NSW Government moving ahead with its Rebuilding NSW program, to get the state moving and deliver the infrastructure of the 21st century, the opportunity to bring together urban renewal and infrastructure investments has never been more prescient.
Two major renewal projects that can really deliver for Parramatta, not just economically but socially and culturally are the Parramatta North Urban Renewal project and a renewal and transformation of the industrial wasteland at Camellia.
The recently announced plan for the urban upgrade and rehabilitation through adaptive re-use of heritage assets at the 146 hectare Parramatta North precinct will stimulate and renovate the surrounding area and drive tourism dollars and jobs into the heart of the city.
A new community will be created with 6,000 homes and 2,000 jobs in the heart of Parramatta, in proximity to Westmead Medical Precinct and Parramatta CBD. The whole project will invest more than $2 billion into the local area and close to $100 million in refurbishment of heritage assets.
We also have the opportunity for waterfront renewal at the 350 hectare Camellia precinct, renewing the industrial landscape and transforming the precinct into the next Pyrmont, a highly desirable mixed-use waterfront community, as we move to a service economy bolstered by a burgeoning high tech sector and world-class research and development.
This is a prime opportunity to create more jobs close to homes in Western Sydney and deliver greater connectivity between Parramatta and surrounding suburbs.
Proper investment in the area could see the space transformed from its current state as an industrial wasteland into a prime waterfront commercial/residential zone that caters for up to 10,000 jobs and 30,000 homes.
However, the corresponding infrastructure must be built to meet the needs and demands of the growth in population, and the Rebuilding NSW program is perfectly positioned to deliver the infrastructure of tomorrow, today.
Infrastructure to address accessibility and connectivity will be key and light rail would be able to get commuters around Parramatta, from UWS to Westmead Hospital or from the Parramatta Heritage Precinct to the CBD in a matter of minutes, taking in some of Australia’s finest heritage sights, natural beauty, and urban vibrancy along the way, on a peaceful and relaxing journey.
Light rail is smooth, quiet and convenient, and will bridge the gap between railways and roads that a modern and innovative 21st century needs.
There is an opportunity to leverage existing quality infrastructure design and concepts, such as the Wentworth Point Bridge, to build connections across Duck Creek and Parramatta River, to integrate Camellia into the city and build a connection between Olympic Park and Parramatta.
Sophisticated modelling techniques enable infrastructure spending to be highly targeted, focusing on eliminating congestion and removing traffic hotspots, to keep our city moving.
The WestConnex project will move traffic in and out of Parramatta with greater ease, and the completion of an integrated sporting precinct with stadium upgrade and commuter car-park at Pirtek Stadium can adjoin the Heritage precinct and bring the entire city to life.
Broad scale macro-level urban renewal across these precincts, combined with infrastructure spending from Rebuilding NSW, will not only make Parramatta a hub of urban renewal, it will elevate it to the next level and truly make us the ‘Capital of Western Sydney.’
