Aland’s bid for Harris Park unit complex to be part of Parramatta fails again

A major developer’s long-running push to shift suburb boundaries so an apartment complex can fall under the better-known suburb of Parramatta has failed after a council drew ‘a line in the sand’.

Aland wants to be part of Parramatta because it more well known than Harris Park. Picture: David Swift

A developer’s push to get a Sydney council to change a suburb boundary for its 331-unit complex has been rejected again.

Parramatta Council has refused to change boundaries that would allow Aland’s Paramount on Parkes building to become part of the better-known suburb of Parramatta instead of Harris Park.

Aland, which is behind the proposed 39-storey building at 14-20 Parkes St, submitted a request through the council to realign the boundaries because Parramatta it is a better known suburb and it falls under the Parramatta CBD.

Since September 2020, Aland has wanted to realign boundaries so that properties north of Parkes St, Harris Park, would fall under Parramatta.

At a previous meeting when the issue was debated, Think Planners urban planning director Adam Byrnes, who spoke on behalf of Aland, said the request was common sense.

“This is a practical request that in our view would reduce confusion in the community,’’ he said.

“This boundary is not logically recognised by the community, it’s extremely irregular, it even splits lots – there’s even one property that resides in two suburbs.’’

An Aland spokeswoman said Parkes St was considered the heart of the Parramatta CBD.

Our Local Community councillor Michelle Garrard supported Aland’s most recent bid to change the boundary and said the unit complex was part of the Parramatta CBD Planning Proposal, which came into effect in October.

Artist's impression of the Aland’s Paramount on Parkes development for Parramatta

At the council’s Tuesday night meeting, she suggested the council prepare a report into the request.

But Labor’s Donna Davis opposed the long-running issue.

“I’m of the view that we should draw a line in the sand, finalise this matter and then if the council so wishes to pursue a review the boundaries of Harris Park, then that could come back to the chamber as a further discussion,’’ she said.

She said many parts of the council area had strange boundaries, such as parts of Beecroft being incorporated into Parramatta.

“People think that Beecroft is all on the other side of the M2 but those people that live on Murray Farm Rd, they definitely know that they are Beecroft,’’ she said.

Aland's request was defeated nine votes to six.

Labor councillors, the Greens’ Phil Bradley and Independent Kellie Darley voted against the proposal while the Our Local Community councillors, and Independents Lorraine Wearne and Georgina Valjak supported it.

Aland was approached for comment.