Dundas, North Parramatta, Pendle Hill hardest hit by housing rent

An MP has vowed the budget will alleviate the cost of living strain on Parramatta where exponential growth has inflamed rents as high as 25 per cent. Find out the worst-hit suburbs.

Alarming data underlines the high rents gripping the Parramatta area, with Dundas, North Parramatta and Pendle Hill among the hardest hit.

It’s an issue federal MP Andrew Charlton vows the October 25 budget will alleviate.

PropTrack data shows the average price of rent in Dundas rose 25 per cent from $650 to $850 in the past 12 months.

The North Parramatta $570 average price shot up to $650 (14 per cent) per cent while renters in Pendle Hill incurred an 11.8 per cent rise.

Following were Ermington (11.7 per cent), North Rocks (11 per cent), Wentworthville (8.7 per cent), Merrylands (8.2 per cent), Parramatta (6.1 per cent), Northmead (4.2 per cent) and Granville (2.6 per cent).

Mr Charlton said Parramatta had to be a “place where you can have a great job and afford a home”.

“And I think that is the promise of Parramatta, particularly with all the new places coming through the CBD,’’ he said.

Parramatta federal Labor MP Andrew Charlton at North Parramatta.

“I think that’s why we need to focus on this to ensure housing remains affordable.

“We’ve had so much population growth in Parramatta, it’s essential to make sure Parramatta’s growth doesn’t cause this place to become overcrowded or unaffordable.’’
Mr Charlton, who was ex Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s senior economics adviser, wants a “fair share” of billions for housing affordability across the nation directed at Parramatta.

“Residents of Parramatta are in a cost-of-living squeeze,’’ he said.

“The price of everything is going up but rent is one of the biggest costs for many families, so it’s a big hit to the budget.’’

The MP, who incurred a huge wrath of criticism for being parachuted in as the multi-millionaire candidate from the eastern suburbs, said the budget would help tackle childcare, medicines and some education costs.

“And the government’s plan to boost social and affordable housing will start to put downward pressure on housing costs for people in Parramatta,’’ he said.

Under the budget, a series of promises made during the campaign are also expected to be delivered for Parramatta.

They include $6.2 million to upgrade Richie Benaud Oval at North Parramatta, $3.5 million to upgrade Harris Park’s “Little India” at Marion and Wigram streets, and $12 million for the Our Lady of Lebanon parish to support Maronite aged care.

Another $6 million to expand aged care services to the area’s South Asian communities was also pledged.

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