Think tank on the cards to design a plan that will save Australia’s oldest highway
The NSW Government will consider creating a think tank that includes local councils to bring Parramatta Road back from the dead and help resolve Sydney’s housing crisis.
NSW
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The NSW Government has flagged the creation of a think tank involving local councils to drive the revival of Parramatta Road and save the country’s oldest highway from slipping deeper into disrepair.
It comes after two Sydney Mayors urged the government to come to the table and design a masterplan for the 9km stretch of road from Burwood to Broadway that they say could deliver 100,00 new homes, a light rail corridor and key community infrastructure.
According to Burwood Mayor John Faker and Canada Bay Mayor Michael Megna, if a housing crisis is not the trigger to end 25 years of inaction over the redevelopment of Parramatta Road then “it’s never going to happen”.
Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore added: “For years, successive governments have talked about revitalising Parramatta Road, and they have failed to act. It cannot wait any longer.
“A new light rail line in Parramatta Road will attract investment in desperately needed new housing contributing towards the National Housing Accord and new local housing targets.”
A NSW Government spokesperson confirmed to The Saturday Telegraph a collaborative approach would be needed for Parramatta Road to play a role in creating new opportunities for housing and jobs in Sydney.
“We need a joined up approach, and the establishment of a coordination agency is under consideration, with local councils like Inner West, Canada Bay and Burwood critical to its design and success,” the spokesperson said.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully added: “The NSW Government recognises the potential (Parramatta Road) provides and is committed to realising this potential.”
Mr Faker said there was opportunity to create a series of villages, green spaces and boulevards woven among high rise apartment buildings along Parramatta Road but a light rail or trackless tram system would have to support mega development plans.
“You can’t just do it for density sake,” he said. “You want to ensure people have high-standard amenities and part of that is creating communities that have their own distinctive features.
“Burwood might have a commercial and retail type character where Leichhardt could be more of a food scene with cafes, bars, restaurants and live music.
“But having a hop on hop off system down the middle of Parramatta Road, like the light rail, is a must and would enable people from all over Sydney to get out and enjoy these areas.
“Rejuvenate Parramatta Road and it will become a destination.”
Mr Faker said world-renowned hotel chains had already expressed an interest in developing in the Burwood council area to attract guests attending events at Sydney Olympic Park.
“There’s not a lot happening around the venues there so visitors and tourists wanting to stay somewhere with nightlife are coming here,” he added. “The Crowne Plaza hotel we already have is at 90% occupancy every month.”
Business Sydney executive director Paul Nicolaou said the Prime Minister has previously said he wants to see Parramatta Road redeveloped.
“It’s in his area,” Mr Nicolaou said. “And people won’t complain about developing it, because it’s sitting there idle.”
Mr Nicolaou also joined Mayors Faker and Megna in arguing for the establishment of an authority to design a masterplan and drive the decisions to bring a final vision to reality.
“A Parramatta Road Authority would have the standing to negotiate with the three major players – developers, councils and landowners – to cut through the bureaucracy and red tape,” he said.
Mr Megna said the NSW Government could start the ball rolling by selling off vacant state-owned sites along Parramatta Road.
“They could be making money by selling to developers and creating more housing,” he said.
“As they say, build it and they will come. But it needs to happen now. Twenty five years ago we didn’t have a housing crisis and nothing happened.
“We’ve seen a number of plans since then and nothing has happened. Now we do have a housing crisis it should be the shot in the arm required to get things moving.”
Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne echoed calls for the government to “get their act together”.
“We desperately need more affordable homes … and this corridor is the obvious place to deliver them.”
Originally published as Think tank on the cards to design a plan that will save Australia’s oldest highway
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