WestInvest windfall to fund Parramatta, Cumberland projects
A windfall of funding for Parramatta includes a cultural indigenous centre and kilometres of cycleways but critics say it just shows the government has neglected the community for more than a decade.
Parramatta
Don't miss out on the headlines from Parramatta . Followed categories will be added to My News.
A windfall of funding has been pledged by the state government for Parramatta and Cumberland six weeks ahead of the election, but the Labor candidate has hit back saying the 16 projects promised just showed how the Liberals have “neglected” the electorate for 12 years.
As part of the WestInvest funding, NSW Treasurer Matt Kean promised more than $250m for councils and community groups to use towards a raft of projects across the must-win seat.
A total of $40m will be directed into the Riverside Theatres, $78.5m for the Indigenous Centre of Excellence at Western Sydney University’s Rydalmere campus, $971,300 towards improving Lake Parramatta and $82.4m for five “active transport” projects.
They include the Parramatta CBD cycleway project to connect the M4 Cycleway and Haslams Creek paths and linking the CBD with the river and Parramatta Park.
A total of $26.9m will go towards the Duck River Nature Trail project which will deliver walking and cycling tracks along the waterway connecting the M4 cycleway and Parramatta Valley off-road cycleway.
A $585,000 allocation for the Anglican Church Property Trust Diocese of Sydney will be used towards the $1.9m Shepherds Wharf Ministry Centre and Community Hub project at Dundas.
The government will also allocate $9.8m to the Finlaysons Creek Regional Cycleway project to link the M4 and Prospect Canal cycleways to the T-Way cycleway and Parramatta Valley cycleway via a path along the creek at Wentworthville and Westmead.
Another $6.1m will be injected into the Carter Street Precinct Community Centre Cold Shell Fit-Out project to transform the facility into a functional community space.
Parramatta state Liberal candidate Katie Mullens said: “More than $250m in funding for local government, community groups and Western Sydney University in Parramatta is terrific news for the community.
“All of these 16 projects will improve liveability across the area.”
But Parramatta Lord Mayor and Labor candidate Donna Davis criticised the timing of the funding.
“While the injection of money is welcome, the WestInvest fund is an admission by the NSW Government that western Sydney has been neglected after its 12 years in office,’’ she said.
“Investments in infrastructure and services for growing communities like ours should be bread and butter for a state government, not last minute, pre-election cash splash.”
She said the council had submitted several proposals which were secured “to ensure infrastructure and services could keep up with Parramatta’s record growth”.
Parramatta is a key battleground for the state election with Mrs Davis hoping to turn the seat red after more than a decade as a Liberal seat under retiring MP Geoff Lee’s leadership.
Ms Mullens, a North Parramatta lawyer, announced her candidacy in January.
Camper charged after ‘stabbing attack’ in cemetery
A man who was camping at a cemetery in Sydney’s west has been charged over allegedly stabbing a 30-year-old man as he walked through the area with two friends.
Sibling revival: Restoration on the ‘Three Sisters’ begins
Almost 150 vacant public housing units in northwest Sydney will be refurbished after a $2bn project to demolish the buildings and replace them with almost 5000 dwellings was dumped.