Under the strategy guidelines, Parramatta will be officially recognised as Sydney’s “dual” CBD, with a boost in investment and amenities in the area that already regards itself as the second CBD.
Blacktown, Liverpool, Penrith and Olympic Park are also among 28 suburbs to become “strategic centres” of employment and housing.
Key planks of the strategy are creating jobs closer to where people live, with green space, retail centres and more affordable housing to meet different needs.
“It is aimed at recreating the day when people lived, worked and shopped in their local area,” Ms Goward said.
Western Sydney director of the Sydney Business Chamber David Borger said it was a plan worth supporting. But he said “the devil is in the delivery”.
“We have to got to make sure that we can kick on, crack on and implement this plan,” he said.
“There are young people who are looking for housing choices, there are people in Western Sydney looking for jobs and we are only going to get those things solved if we can get broad community support behind the plan.”
Tourism, the new drum-beat of the west, also would be a winner, says Tourism and Transport Forum CEO Margy Osmond.
“Tourists want to visit vibrant and busy precincts where they can experience the best of Sydney and its people,” she said.
One of the strategies was to develop a better balance between shopping complexes and high street businesses, to make suburbs more attractive.
Parramatta Lord Mayor Scott Lloyd welcomed the strategy’s concept of Sydney being a “dual CBD” - comprising Sydney and Parramatta CBDs.
“This approach is consistent with our Council’s vision for growth with initiatives such as Parramatta Square, activation of the riverfront and creating a new commercial precinct in Auto Alley,” Clr Lloyd said.
“The strategy finds that our CBD has the potential to reach 100,000 jobs over the next 20 years and that Greater Parramatta including Westmead, Parramatta North,
Rydalmere and Camellia, will become one of the key Strategic Centres for Sydney.
“Our council will work with the NSW Government to expand Greater Parramatta, attract new jobs and investment and provide vital infrastructure such as transport links.
“This is all great news for Parramatta and Western Sydney – and also a strong vote of confidence in our Council’s vision to transform and grow our City.”
But it not all about Parramatta CBD. With the North West Rail Link, Sydney’s most important new investment in public transport, more jobs and housing will be dotted along the suburbs it serves - Rouse Hill and Castle Hill in particular.
The draft strategy calls for opportunities to develop the Western Sydney Employment Area, the 10,000 hectares between the M4 and M7, for jobs growth in manufacturing and new technology.
There also is a focus on developing medical, arts and business precincts for better efficiency and convenience.
Westmead medical precinct and Rydalmere technology precinct are examples of building on what is already there, with improved infrastructure and upgrading of facilities.
Parramatta is expected to have 21,000 jobs in the CBD by 2031, with the total population of the Greater West expected to grow by 907,000 by 2031.
Demographer Bernard Salt backed the strategy’s principles, saying Sydney needed to create jobs near where people lived, as well as housing of all types, and recreational spaces.
To find out more, read the full draft strategy, and how you can comment, at planning.nsw.gov.au/Sydney
