Parramatta Road is the answer to the housing crisis
A Sydney mayor says the NSW government needs to position Parramatta Road as their answer to the housing crisis.
NSW
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The NSW Government would suffocate Sydney’s inner west suburbs by going on a backstreet development frenzy and need to position Parramatta Road as their answer to the housing crisis, according to a longstanding council leader.
Canada Bay Mayor Michael Megna supports moves by the Minns Government to increase density in selected areas across the city to underpin delivery of the state’s housing supply targets.
But Mr Megna warns developments must be fit for purpose and not overdone in established low-density precincts that will struggle to handle the flow on effects. He says Parramatta Road provides an obvious answer to providing new homes at scale.
“Government want to build up around public transport hubs, and I can understand that, but every five minutes they seem to be changing their minds and creating new scenarios, even more density,” he said.
“Where will that lead, how far will it spread? Having a lot more density in our suburbs, off the main arterial routes, is going to create significant problems. You’re talking about development in areas where the roads aren’t getting any wider.
“These are roads that were built 150 years ago. They won’t be fit to take the traffic, to take the people, to take the parking that will be required.
“We’re already at a crisis point with traffic and congestion. I know the government is hungry for development but it should focus on Parramatta Road and keep density to lower levels in suburban streets.
“At the same time, development along Parramatta Road needs to be considered and not an endless wall of outsized high-rise like the six towers of up to 31 storeys that are being proposed in Five Dock.”
Canada Bay has two precincts as part of the State’s Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) program designed to deliver new housing up to 24 metres in height within 400 metres of 37 stations across NSW.
The Homebush TOD is one of eight in Sydney identified for accelerated development, with rezonings last November designed to deliver 18,000 new homes – 2000 more than initially proposed.
Planning Minister Paul Scully said: “A change of heart on residential development along Parramatta Road from the Mayor is good to see after strong opposition to (recent) initiatives.
“The Minns Government’s TOD program and the Low and Mid-Rise Housing reforms improve links to Parramatta Road that will encourage more housing.
“The Housing Delivery Authority and the Infill Affordable Housing scheme have (also) seen proposals submitted for new housing along Parramatta Road. The Minns Government has been consistent in its commitment to build more well-located homes.”
Mr Megna, with almost 40 years’ experience in local government, also expressed concern over two potential mega builds near North Strathfield train and proposed metro station which council say could be declared State Significant sites to permit developments up to 150m.
Committee for Sydney CEO Eamonn Waterford has joined the push to see Parramatta Road brought back to life with a series of high-density residential hubs along a corridor from Burwood to Broadway.
“Parramatta Road was Sydney’s original high street but it’s now undoubtedly our worst high street,” he said. “No one likes Parramatta Road in its current form but there is opportunity to unlock 100,000 homes.
“The current state of play is just not good enough. We need to do better.”
Urban Taskforce CEO Tom Forrest said for a Parramatta Road transformation “higher density and height should be substantial”, adding “it’s time to get on with fixing up this sad old road … its dilapidation began 40 years ago and the results are obvious.”
Business Sydney Executive Director Paul Nicolaou said: “These old car yards and commercial buildings on Parramatta Road are sitting around doing nothing … now is the time to act, while everyone is in agreement and we have this housing crisis to resolve.”
Originally published as Parramatta Road is the answer to the housing crisis
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