Parramatta Road corridor redevelopment: Concerns infrastructure won’t cope with 27,000 new homes
A plan to see the construction of a massive 27,000 homes on one of Sydney’s busiest roads has community leaders fearful the 30-year vision will push local infrastructure to its limits.
Inner West
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A 30-year development plan to revitalise the Parramatta Road Corridor has now entered its final stages of planning, leaving local leaders worried the area is being used as a “giant Monopoly board”.
The Parramatta Road Corridor Urban Transformation Strategy (PRCUTS) which, began in 2016, is a major project that covers land along the length from Granville to Camperdown, and looks to build over 27,000 new homes and 50,000 new jobs.
However, the development plan has been met with criticism by community leaders for a range of issues, from lack of affordable housing to new public transportation and bike paths.
There are fears the plans will put pressure on existing infrastructure.
Former Inner West councillor and current Planning and Heritage Advisory Committee Chair, Louise Steer, isn’t opposed to the corridor, but is worried it will negatively impact the community.
“Everyone is welcome in this community, it’s what makes it so great, however, more people moving in here puts increased pressure on current infrastructure and there has been no word from government on any infrastructure,” she said.
“It places pressure on our hospitals, on our open spaces … all of our public transport is at capacity during peak hour.”
“Overcrowding the Inner West without the infrastructure isn’t going to give new residents a comfortable life … It’s like a giant Monopoly board and you see it all over Sydney, not just Inner West.”
Ms steer also raised concerns on the lack of affordable housing with only 500 of the 27000 new homes built as such which can drive out “Policeman, teachers and bus drivers who continue who have to make massive commutes daily to work,” as well as push away families which can have a “huge effect on the diversity here.”
However, Inner West Councillor Marghanita Da Cruz sees it as an entirely different conversation when it comes to overcrowding.
Ms Cruz sees the development as a “one size fits all” plan which she says has led to the creation of unsustainable communities in regional and rural NSW.
“We have to remember that the Inner West was created before the car and we are a community that heavily walks and cycles,” she said.
“So, it’s not so much about overcrowding but the designing of the plan, a neighbourhood people can actually live and travel in.”
“And what’s kind of being pushed is a one size fits all … I think the problem is the plan, we should be looking for how to use the land better.”
A NSW Planning spokesman said the corridor plan would support current infrastructure throughout the Inner West
“A total of $198 million has been allocated to six local councils to support 32 projects that improve open space and active transport links along the Parramatta Road corridor,” the spokesman said.
“The Government reformed infrastructure contributions in June 2023 by passing new legislation to align housing delivery with supporting infrastructure to make sure growing communities have access to schools, roads and parks, and includes additional funding support for local councils.”
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