Mulpha Norwest plans on-demand bus services, satellite parking to beat Norwest congestion

A developer in Sydney’s northwest has come up with a lifeline for the NSW Government and commuters who will suffer from a lack of parking at a Sydney Metro station.

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A PRIVATE developer in Sydney’s northwest has come up with a lifeline for the NSW Government and commuters who will suffer from a lack of parking at the Norwest Sydney Metro station — while beating congestion on The Hills’ busiest road.

Mulpha Norwest, developers behind a multibillion-dollar, Silicon Valley-style vision for the future of Norwest Business Park, have been quietly working away at a plan to combat congestion on Norwest Blvd and support the Sydney Metro northwest with extra satellite parking.

A typical morning traffic jam on Norwest Boulevarde in Norwest Business Park off Old Windsor Road, northwest of Sydney.

Mulpha Norwest general manager Tim Spencer revealed exclusively to The Times the company is working to secure approval on the construction of satellite parking stations, improved cycle and walkways, and local on-demand bus connections alongside the release of a new carpool ride sharing app.

Executive General Manager Mulpha Norwest Tim Spencer has proposed satellite parking and on-demand bus services in Norwest Business Park.(AAP Image / Angelo Velardo)

“At Mulpha, we have always talked about a fully integrated transport strategy as part of our Smart City vision,” Mr Spencer said. “There is no silver bullet to fixing congestion issues and we know we need a range of initiatives to combat this.”

A development application was recently submitted by the group for the construction of a a 500-space satellite parking station in the company’s Circa Retail precinct off Windsor Rd at Norbrik Drive.

“We think there will be a massive demand for the satellite parking station by the Sydney Metro northwest — but for Mulpha it is also a way of getting people off Norwest Blvd,” he said. “This will be a massive advantage for the entire Business Park, everyone that calls it home or works here — this is our last mile transport strategy.”

The company did not reveal the cost of parking at the satellite parking station.

The developer recently partnered with ride sharing app Liftango to bring carpooling to Norwest Business Park, however, the transport strategy will see this go one step further with on-demand bus services.

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Mr Spencer said the team at Mulpha were working to receive approval for the service from the Norwest Association and The Hills Shire Council.

“We have conducted independent audits of all cycle and walkways in Norwest and we are working on prioritising upgrades to make the entire park more integrated,” he said.

He said the plan was scheduled to be operational by the opening of the Sydney Metro northwest, on May 8.

No parking will be available at Norwest Metro station.

However, a lack of planning approvals have resulted in the strategy remaining in draft.

“We want the plan to be rolled out this year,” Mr Spencer said.

“Government and the business community have to support each other and the load has to be shared.

“Sometimes there is not the amount of support given in both directions.”

The plans from Mulpha also come as the NSW Government reveal on-demand bus services will be implemented in suburbs surrounding Metro stations.

Paul Stringer from Sydney with a Lime scooter, which is being proposed for Norwest Business Park. (AAP image, John Gass)

“With on-demand transport, customers can book a service which will collect them from close to home and drop them off at their local Metro station,” Baulkham Hills state Liberal MP David Elliott said.

“This will encourage more people out of their cars and onto public transport.”

Customers in Norwest, Bella Vista and parts of Baulkham Hills and Castle Hill, will be able to jump on a CDC Hillsbus services to Norwest, Bella Vista, and Hills Showground Metro Station.

Mr Elliott said services will operate on weekdays from 6am — 10am and 4pm — 9pm.

The On Demand services will launch in line with the first Metro service later this year.

Mulpha Transport Strategist Rebecca Lehman will present the draft strategy for the congestion beating program at Mulpha’s Norwest Information Centre at 36 Solent Circuit, Norwest from 6pm on March 21.