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Greater Sydney Commissioner Lucy Turnbull has released plans for transport links between Norwest and Parramatta.
Greater Sydney Commissioner Lucy Turnbull has released plans for transport links between Norwest and Parramatta.

Greater Sydney Commission reveal plans for transport links from Norwest to Parramatta

A MASS transit link from Norwest to the heart of Parramatta is being earmarked as a part of groundbreaking infrastructure planning by the Greater Sydney Commission.

The commission released the finalised district plans for its Central City vision last month, which focuses on a three-city metropolis across Sydney.

According to the finalised district plans, ‘radial transport links’ will connect Parramatta CBD with city centres across north west Sydney, in a move to increase infrastructure to cater for an extra 550,000 people to 1,521,500 in the Greater Parramatta and Hills region by 2036.

“Greater Parramatta and the Olympic Peninsula is being supported by a $10 billion investment in city-scale assets,” the commission said in the report.

“Greater Parramatta needs a radial transport network to make the most of its location at the centre of Greater Sydney.”

The commission said its Future Transport 2056 identified a number of mass transit initiatives to improve public transport in the next 20 years, including a connection from Parramatta to Norwest, Epping and the western Sydney Airport.

Norwest could have its very own direct transport link to the heart of Parramatta. Picture: Cinemair.
Norwest could have its very own direct transport link to the heart of Parramatta. Picture: Cinemair.

Commissioner Lucy Turnbull told the Times the radial network would be delivered in stages.

“We can imagine a future where the great majority of Sydneysiders will be able to reach Greater Parramatta in 30 minutes,” she said.

“This will bring a whole new workforce into Parramatta, for the new jobs, as well as a mass of students to the growing number of tertiary educational opportunities.”

The Central City district plan highlights the need to revolutionise the region’s powerhouse economy through innovative employment, health and education precincts, including the promotion of plans for a new hospital in the north west.

The commission highlighted the mass employment opportunities in the Norwest Business Park precinct, but called for more job concentration in Marsden Park, Rouse Hill and Castle Hill in the finalised report.

Mrs Turnbull said the Hills will be a part of a well-connected city with new homes, access to quality jobs, great places and green spaces to enjoy.

Lucy Turnbull said there would be a mass of jobs in the Norwest Business Park. Picture: AAP Image/Jeremy Ng
Lucy Turnbull said there would be a mass of jobs in the Norwest Business Park. Picture: AAP Image/Jeremy Ng

“As well as employment growth in the Norwest Business Park precinct, our Central City District Plan provides direction on employment in a number of areas including the strategic centres of Castle Hill and Rouse Hill,” Mrs Turnbull said.

“In the Hills LGA, industrial and urban services land has been designated under a ‘review and manage’ approach.

“The designation of Rouse Hill as a strategic centre, the current construction of the Sydney Metro North West project and the identification of a potential extension further west are all exciting opportunities for the Baulkham Hills and Rouse Hills area.”

Hills Shire Mayor Michelle Byrne has called for the Greater Sydney Commission to focus their efforts on major transport infrastructure.

Cr Byrne said their needed to be more effort to “ensure certainty of essential infrastructure” included in the 40 year vision for the future of Sydney, claiming all levels of government are playing catch up.

Greater Sydney Commission Deputy Chief Geoff Roberts speaks at a rail symposium in Thirlmere in November. Picture: AAP Image/Angelo Velardo
Greater Sydney Commission Deputy Chief Geoff Roberts speaks at a rail symposium in Thirlmere in November. Picture: AAP Image/Angelo Velardo

“A metropolis of three cities is a good start to fixing the State’s infrastructure shortage, but it cannot be a plan that’s put on a shelf and allows growth to continue to race ahead of the critical infrastructure needed to support high levels of population growth,” she said.

“I’m calling on both the State and Federal Governments to fast-track essential infrastructure, such as connections to the new Western Sydney Airport, as we are already growing at a rate faster than the State’s infrastructure can cope.”

Greater Sydney Commission's Greater Sydney Region plan.
Greater Sydney Commission's Greater Sydney Region plan.

Hills Shire Mayor Michelle Byrne has called for the Greater Sydney Commission to focus their efforts on major transport infrastructure.

Cr Byrne said there needed to be more effort to “ensure certainty of essential infrastructure” included in the 40 year vision for the future of Sydney, claiming all levels of government are playing catch up.

Cr Byrne said she was disappointed Baulkham Hills Town Centre was overlooked in the district plans, as well as vital infrastructure needed to improve road congestion and connectivity between towns and regions.

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“Baulkham Hills Town Centre is at a complete standstill with local and regional traffic using the Baulkham Hills junction to access the M2 and Parramatta,” Cr Byrne said.

“We know the Town Centre will grow by an extra 1500-2000 dwellings and with additional growth in Box Hill, Kellyville, Castle Hill and surrounding areas, more people will be using these roads than ever before. Solutions must be found now to manage the traffic along Windsor Road and through to Baulkham Hills.

“Another way to ease traffic along Windsor Road would be to construct a light rail between Baulkham Hills Junction and Parramatta. According to Census data, about 15 per cent of our employed residents travel to Parramatta each day for work and with a light rail available, residents could move easily between the two centres.”

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/hills-shire-times/greater-sydney-commission-reveal-plans-for-transport-links-from-norwest-to-parramatta/news-story/1d21bccdf819bf729f77b730a74caa1e