Parramatta Council to defer developer Aland’s push to move away from Harris Park

A council will revisit a developer’s request to adjust its boundaries so one of its apartment complexes can fall under Parramatta. Find out why.

Residents of Paramount on Parkes will live in Harris Park if the council has its way.

Parramatta Council will revisit a developer’s push to become part of Parramatta instead of Harris Park despite initially planning to refuse the request.

Aland, which is the company behind the proposed 39-storey Paramount on Parkes complex at 14-20 Parkes St, submitted a request through the council to realign the boundaries between Parramatta and Harris Park.

It wants properties north of Parkes St, Harris Park, to fall under Parramatta because it is a better known suburb and it falls under the Parramatta CBD Planning Proposal zone.

“This is a common sense request,’’ Think Planners urban planning director Adam Byrnes said on behalf of the developers at the council meeting on Monday night.

“This boundary is not logically recognised by the community, it’s extremely irregular, it even splits lots – there’s even one property that resides in two suburbs.

A swimming pool proposed for Paramount on Parkes.

“This is a practical request that in our view would reduce confusion in the community.’’

Ahead of the meeting, the council recommended Aland’s request be refused. A report said shifting the boundaries would inconvenience 373 residents and businesses.

Mr Byrnes said out of the 19 land owners, 13 were consulted and they backed the adjustment.

The council said the request contradicted guidelines of the Geographical Names Board, which ultimately determines the proposal.

Harris Park, which is 65 hectares, is already dwarfed by neighbouring 548ha Parramatta.

“Altering the northern boundary of Harris Park would further reduce the footprint of the Harris Park locality by approximately 1000 sqm,’’ the council report said.

“Changing locality/suburbs may cause confusion, as this would impact several property owners and businesses which would need to change their address from Harris Park to Parramatta.

“There is no identified benefit to council or service delivery to the community in a boundary adjustment to realign the suburb boundary between Parramatta and Harris Park to include properties north of Parkes St, Harris Park.’’

Labor councillor Cameron Maclean echoed those comments.

“At that point we’ll start calling Parramatta Oatlands and where do we draw the line on these things?”

The site for Paramount on Parkes development in Harris Park. Picture: Facebook

Cr Dan Siviero acknowledged the request could be to increase property prices but labelled a realignment common sense.

Our Local Community councillor Michelle Garrard said it was premature to reject the request and suggested a workshop to discuss the issue.

All councillors except Greens Phil Bradley agreed to defer the matter so the workshop could be held.

An Aland spokeswoman said Parkes St was considered the heart of the Parramatta CBD.

“The current zigzag boundary line does not meet several areas of the GNB guidelines and has become outdated due to the growth of the Parramatta CBD,’’ she said.

“The proposed boundary line will improve several factors including greater compliance with GNB guidelines, alignment with the Parramatta CBD boundary line, reduction of address confusion for visitors, alignment between the lower density character of Harris Park versus the CBD density of Parramatta.’’

Aland first lobbied the council for the boundary change in September 2020 when it was rejected.