Liverpool emerges as Sydney’s next Central Business District
The eyes of developers and the city’s major players are turning west with one suburb emerging as Sydney’s next Central Business District.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The eyes of developers and city big wigs are turning west as Liverpool emerges as Sydney’s next CBD, with the new airport, metro and innovation precinct putting the suburb on track for a major boom.
With more than one million people expected to call the south west home in the next 15 years, Liverpool is quickly becoming the health, education and construction heartland of Sydney, bolstered by its role as the gateway to the new Western Sydney Airport, Bradfield City and local institutions including Western Sydney University and Liverpool Hospital.
But a new report has urged the Minns government to boost local recreation, dining and amenities to help Liverpool live up to its full potential as our future third city centre.
Business Western Sydney executive director and Liverpool Innovation Precinct (LIP) chair David Borger said simple changes, including better walkways, more lighting and no-smoking zones around Macquarie St Mall and Biggie Park, would do wonders for the area.
“Liverpool today reminds me of where Parramatta was 10 or 15 years ago,” Mr Borger said.
“Major employers, start-ups and institutions like universities are circling and want to be here.
“It has great bones, it’s blessed with a great walkable grid and for minimal investment we can make it much safer, extend the economy into the evening, and create more vibrancy. Simple improvements are not going to break the bank.”
The report, commissioned by the LIP from Arup Group, detailed a fresh vision for the Liverpool CBD through modest changes which would boost the liveability of the broader area, including the Moore Point development and untapped waterfront locations.
Improving maintenance and cleaning, lighting up trees and parks with fairy lights, establishing regular markets and supporting late night dining topped recommendations to make the city centre more family-friendly — particularly after dark.
BonaFides Cafe and Restaurant worker Marija Jovanovic, 50, has passed out coffees along Macquarie St for years and said it was time to breathe new life into the area.
“Liverpool is a great community, it’s a cultural hotspot and it could be booming in the next few years but it’s progressing slowly,” she said.
“What’s holding it back is the pace, they haven’t got the ball rolling. It needs more maintenance, and a little bit more love and support.”
Mijanur Rahman, 40, opened his new clothes shop Zay Workwear on Macquarie St five weeks ago, looking to capitalise on the influx of construction workers to the new airport and surrounding industries.
He said the area was “booming” but needed better carparking and more activities to entice shoppers.
“If more people come it will create more opportunities for us, our rent is huge … but we decided to come here because there is a lot of construction going on and lots of corporate people are coming here, so we hope we might do well here.”
While Hamze Liverpool grocery market owner Amira Hamze, 42 echoed calls for better maintenance and cleaning in public spaces, starting with banning smoking along Macquarie St.
“No-smoking zones would be a good thing, sometimes customers are picking food from the front of the store and smoking at the same time,” Ms Hamze said.
Liverpool City Council Mayor Ned Mannoun said it was time for the government to invest in the suburb the same way it invested in Parramatta 10 years ago to create more success in the west.
“Liverpool is meant to be the capital of south west Sydney, so there is no need for people to be driving past, clogging up the M5 on their way into the city,” he said.
“People can do everything here, they can go to university, work high quality jobs, have a great night out at our ‘eat street’ or watch a sports game at our new stadium.
“We need the government to invest in the area — but it’s not all about money, we can be creative.”
This article is part of the Future Western Sydney series, which is proudly supported by Clubs NSW, Powerhouse, Transurban, Walker Corp, Western Sydney International Airport and Western Sydney University
Originally published as Liverpool emerges as Sydney’s next Central Business District
Join the conversation
‘Game changer’: Dutton’s $231m Western Sydney funding blitz
Peter Dutton will try to win over Sydney’s crucial western suburbs by unveiling a multi-million-dollar cash bomb to unlock the region’s new airport and choked roads.
Read more
Doctors ordered to call off strike or risk psychiatrists’ wage deal
The Industrial Relations Commission has given the doctors’ union an ultimatum: call off your three-day strike in NSW hospitals or derail the wages deal for psychiatrists.
Read more