Bold vision for Parramatta CBD as taller buildings reflect area growth
A new vision for the Parramatta CBD will reflect the incredible growth the city will see in the next 20 years. Urban development experts have created a bold image of what Parramatta will look like by 2040, including a striking design of eel-shaped buildings in homage to NRL team the Parramatta Eels.
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Buildings shaped like an eel and high-rise gardens that hang from the sky could be part of the future for Parramatta.
Urban development experts have created a bold image of what Parramatta will look like in 2036.
The most striking design for Parramatta includes the eel-shaped buildings in homage to NRL team the Parramatta Eels.
The Urban Taskforce’s vision for the Parramatta CBD reflects the incredible growth the city will see in the next 20 years.
The suburb’s population is projected to increase by 58 per cent in the next 17 years, going from 35,149 to 55,598 in 2036.
This is like the population greater than Bathurst’s (42,000 people) squeezing into an area 720 times smaller.
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Western Sydney Business Chamber executive director David Borger said the designs reflect a big investment in the western CBD.
“I think we should be ambitious for our architecture; we want designers who are prepared to take risks and developers who are willing to back them,” Mr Borger said.
“We don’t want to be Dallas on the cheap. We want to be a memorable place.
“With the confidence in Parramatta now you are going to see very tall building volumes and hopefully great quality architecture as well.”
The NAB and thousands of NSW public servants are moving to Parramatta as part of the $2.7 billion Parramatta Square development by Walker Corporation.
More than 300,000 new jobs will be created by 2036 in the corridor between Greater Parramatta and central Sydney at places like the Parramatta CBD, Sydney Olympic Park and the Bays Precinct.
Jobs growth will be driven by the Sydney Metro West rail project that will link these areas. Construction starts next year.
Parramatta city is also booming thanks to the new 30,000-seat Bankwest Stadium.
“Parramatta is fast becoming a real city as a series of tall buildings are getting approved that include jobs in commercial buildings as well as residents in apartment buildings,” Urban Taskforce CEO Chris Johnson said.
“The NSW Government is also moving the Powerhouse Museum to Parramatta and a new football stadium has recently opened.”
The images have prompted Parramatta Lord Mayor Andrew Wilson to call on the state government to return planning powers to local councils.
He said visions like this area great because there are “less boxes”.
“It is a pipe dream until someone puts money into build it,” he said.
He said while all big buildings are subject to a design competition, that competition only applies to that one building at a time.
“If we were given power by the state government we would have international design competitions to co-ordinate taste throughout the city,” he said.
Planning Minister Rob Stokes declined to comment.
BAR IN THE SKY A CLUE TO WHAT LIES AHEAD
Twenty years ago boutique bar owner Sven Almenning thought Parramatta was “just a big suburb with a shopping centre”. Not anymore.
And now Mr Almenning has put his money where his mouth is, pouring millions into high-end cocktail and champagne bar Nick and Nora’s.
The Parramatta bar opened in November and is part of a migration of classy venues to Western Sydney.
They are popping up thanks to the influx of white collar jobs in the area along with the simple fact that it’s in the centre of Sydney’s population.
“People have asked me whether or not Parramatta is ready for what we were going to bring out, and I’ve always said that it’s a silly question,” the Speakeasy Group owner said.
“Whether it be great food and shopping options or the business and finance jobs here, Parramatta is very vibrant.
“Parramatta will continue to grow as Sydney’s second CBD.”
The venue is perched on the 26th floor of V by Crown, a $309 million, 519 apartment tower on Macquarie St.
The development also has a private pool deck and wine room, 25m lap pool and sauna, gym, music room, conference and library facilities, landscaped resident gardens, gaming room and theatrette.
“A huge number of people who go to high-end bars in the city actually live out in Western Sydney,” Mr Almenning said.
“It’s just a matter of getting them used to going out in Parramatta which is closer to home.”
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