Business leaders: Parramatta Road can be the ‘grand boulevard’ of Sydney but it needs urgent attention

For decades there has been talk but no action on reviving Parramatta Road, now community leaders are calling on government to help turn Australia’s oldest highway into a “grand boulevard”.

What the proposed changes to Parramatta Road could like.

Business and local government leaders are urging the NSW Government to end decades of inaction and green light the ultimate urban makeover – transforming Parramatta Road into the “grand boulevard” of Sydney.

Claiming the time for talk is over, key supporters of mega development along a 9km stretch of the city’s “ugly duckling” from North Burwood to Broadway want $2 million in funding to master plan a vision they would present back to government before year end.

Burwood Mayor John Faker believes 100,000 homes could be built along the inner-west corridor and developer contributions of up to $5 billion delivered to the Minns Government to reinvest in infrastructure including light rail down the middle of Australia’s oldest highway.

Proponents say government-owned assets and large car sales yards – as single owner sites – could drive the conversion in the short term.

Burwood Mayor John Faker (left) and Business Sydney Executive Director Paul Nicolaou. Mr Faker believes 100,000 homes could be built along the Parramatta Rd corridor. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

“What we need is a commitment from government now,” Faker said. “This can tackle the housing crisis but also create sustainable communities along that strip. At the moment it is the ugly duckling of this city.

“What we need is funding to get some consultants on board asap to work with the councils and the government, led by the planning and transport departments, to reimagine this gateway. We could have a masterplan ready by the end of the year.

“Governments have been sitting idly by for decades. We really need to get moving.”

Canada Bay Mayor Michael Megna agreed.

“It’s the most rundown length of road in Sydney,” he said. “We need to get the ball rolling or in another 20 years we’ll still be talking about what to do with Parramatta Road.”

An artist's impression of a potential Parramatta Road transformation including light rail. Picture: Supplied.

Housing Industry Association NSW President David Mann added: “We’ve been talking about what we can do with Parramatta Road for such a long time. Let’s take some action, improve it, and create what can be the grand boulevard of Sydney.”

Faker outlined his vision to The Daily Telegraph in February and the government responded saying “the establishment of a co-ordination agency is under consideration, with local councils like Inner West, Canada Bay and Burwood critical to its design and success”.

But two months on, Faker and Megna say they are still waiting for government to establish an authority and commence planning for what needs to be a high-rise development focus along the main arterial route.

“It can’t be piecemeal, a little bit of development here, a little bit there,” said Megna. “It needs to be planned as if it was a greenfield site and then start building.”

Burwood Mayor John Faker (left) and Canada Bay Mayor Michael Megna, who said any development can’t be piecemeal. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Faker said the first wave of developments could be triggered by selling off and relocating government-owned assets, including the Transport for NSW bus depot at Burwood.

According to Megna, the plethora of car sales yards along Parramatta Road would also offer developers the chance to secure suitably sized “one owner” sites.

A government spokesman told The Daily Telegraph the co-ordination agency referenced in February to consider the future of Parramatta Road was still “under consideration”.

“Parramatta Road is a critical corridor and must play an important part in creating new opportunities for housing and jobs within Sydney,” the spokesman said.

But Business Sydney Executive Director Paul Nicolaou called for immediate action.

“Let’s make redevelopment of urban blighted Parramatta Road a priority for 2025,” he said. “It’s one of life’s lingering mysteries why restoring this vital corridor keeps getting put in the too hard basket.

Parramatta Road – the ‘ugly duckling’ supporters want to transform into the ‘grand boulevard’ of Sydney. Picture: Richard Dobson

“Everyone wants it to happen including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, whose electorate includes a considerable length of Parramatta Road, and the councils surrounding it.”

On Faker’s call for the establishment of an authority, Mann said “there is merit to that but we don’t just want to see more planning to plan, let’s plan to deliver … we need measurable outcomes and pathways to accelerate construction and development along Parramatta Road”.

“We need a whole of government approach,” he added. “And as an industry we need to build houses of every type anywhere, but we need to do it now.”

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Originally published as Business leaders: Parramatta Road can be the ‘grand boulevard’ of Sydney but it needs urgent attention