Westmead home to health, education, transport transformation

Big money continues to pour into what is fast becoming a powerhouse in the state’s health and transport industries. See what will be packed into Parramatta’s next-door neighbour by 2036.

Joanne Vella

@Parramatta_News

3 min read

February 1, 2021 - 6:00AM

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Westmead is at the centre of seismic changes to turn it from a suburb into a big player in several serious industries.

More than $8 billion is being poured into Parramatta’s “little” next-door neighbour, including the government’s investment in a Metro West station, light rail, Sydney University campus, Australia’s largest health precinct and an influx of residents and 50,000 workers by 2036.

Already a powerhouse of health services including Westmead Hospital, which is undergoing a $1 billion redevelopment, the suburb will be home to the nation’s brightest minds.

HEALTH

The State Government’s vision is for Westmead to become the nation’s premier health and innovation district with leading researchers, entrepreneurs, health workers and students.

By 2036, the existing research and health facilities will attract even more researchers, clinicians, academics to the Westmead health precinct, which encompasses Westmead Hospital, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Cumberland Hospital, Westmead Private Hospital, the Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Children’s Medical Research Institute, Kids Research Institute, Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research, the University of Sydney and Western Sydney University.

The Westmead Health Precinct will continue to attract Australia’s brightest researchers and medical staff. Picture: Monique Harmer

In May, construction of Westmead Hospital’s central acute service building was completed three months early and houses 300 rooms and two emergency departments.

The 14-storey building is the centrepiece of the $1 billion redevelopment and, once fully operational, will also house digital operating theatres, education, research and training facilities on each floor and 1.5 floors for Sydney University to use for education and research.

Part of the precinct’s redevelopment also includes $619 million for stage two of The Children’s Hospital.

This year, the $350 million Innovative Quarter research and development centre will open at Hawkesbury Rd and generate 1000 jobs.

Also to be known as iQ, it will feature some of Western Sydney University’s leading research institutes and Australia’s national science agency CSIRO over the 28,000sq m site, while pumping $150 million into the economy.

TRANSPORT

Westmead is already a major transport hub but the $2.4 billion Parramatta Light Rail and the Sydney West Metro will advance its connections to the region and wider Sydney.

The 12km light rail track begins at Westmead, where there are three stops — Westmead Light Rail, Westmead Hospital and Gurung (outside the Children’s Hospital). Tracks were laid at Hawkesbury Rd from November.

Many businesses such as the Commonwealth Bank in Westmead Arcade and the newsagent at the adjoining Westmead Shopping Village are casualties of the light rail and shut up shop for the controversial project.

The Metro West station is earmarked for the opposite side of the train tracks where Westmead will be the first stop on the 25km line that stretches from Westmead to the Sydney CBD via Parramatta, Sydney Olympic Park, North Strathfield, Burwood North, Five Dock and The Bays.

Westmead Metro station operates from 2030.

The project signalled compulsory acquisition of homes belonging to many long-time Westmead dwellers such as Georgette and Fred Sassine, who have lived at Bailey St for 50 years.

This year could be their last in their three-bedroom family home, depending on the acquisition being negotiated to ensure they achieve a decent payout.

Their daughter, Diana Sassine Hajje, says the process is “really not that great’’ and her parents could be out of the home by June.

The Metro station will occupy a parcel of land bordering Alexandra Ave, Hawkesbury Rd, and Hassall and Bailey streets when it is completed in 2030.

Fred Sassine with his daughter Diana Sassine Hajje at his home at Bailey St Westmead where he has lived since 1971.

EDUCATION

In December, Sydney University revealed plans to open a campus in the Westmead Health and Innovative District, on the grounds of the Cumberland Hospital site.

The university hopes to attract more than 25,000 students and 2500 staff by 2055 and provide affordable student and staff accommodation.

The State Government and Sydney University has confirmed plans for the multi-disciplinary university campus in the Westmead Health and Innovation District, which is on the grounds of the historic Cumberland Hospital site.

Sydney University will open a campus at the Westmead Health and Innovation District.

The Innovation Quarter is due to open this year.

Western Sydney, Jobs, Investment and Tourism Minister Stuart Ayres said the plans would drive innovation and enable the nation to become a world leader in research that “saves lives and cure diseases’’.

But opponents slammed it as an unsolicited bid on public land. North Parramatta Residents’ Action Group spokeswoman Suzette Meade said the land should be preserved for open space.

The Cumberland Hospital site is regarded as one of the nation’s richest historical places and has been used as a mental health institute since 1818.

RETAIL

The light rail development forced the once-bustling Westmead Shopping Village to become run down but there are plans for an $88 million overhaul to house a hotel, apartments and shops.

Developers First Point Property plan to build a 14-storey retail and residential complex that will include a 97-room hotel, the reinstatement of the existing Westmead Tavern, as well as a supermarket and medical centre for the Railway Pde site.

Plans for eight restaurants and a 127-space, three-deck basement carpark are part of the project while development contributions feature public domain upgrades and a link from the train station to Hawkesbury Rd.

● The State Government’s Westmead Place Strategy details changes for the suburb over he next 20 years.

Visit here to make a submission before March 1.