Parramatta Council lodges feedback on Sydney Olympic Park masterplan

A major council has hit out at the state government’s Sydney Olympic Park masterplan, warning it “will not cope” and will be forced to “pick up the pieces” of a project devoid of jobs and hospitals.

Transport chaos is not unusual at Sydney Olympic Park train station after a major event, but fears are mounting it could be worse under a masterplan. Picture: Flavio Brancaleone

Parramatta councillors have urged the state government to look beyond the “rainbows” and modify the Sydney Olympic Park masterplan so it doesn’t abandon neighbouring communities – among the most crowded in Australia – with a lack of jobs and hospitals.

The state government last month unveiled Sydney Olympic Park Masterplan 2050 – a lofty project to convert the post-Games ghost town into a thriving metropolis with 13,000 new dwellings, shops and restaurants for up to 30,000 residents.

But it has generated backlash with opponents lamenting an excessive number of apartments, the loss of 5000 car spots and inadequate public transport to cope with a population boom not just in Sydney Olympic Park but also nearby Rosehill, Camellia and Melrose Park.

Under the masterplan, homes will increase by 30 per cent but jobs will decrease 33 per cent to 31,000 positions by 2050.

The decrease is at odds with the council’s aim to deliver more than 150,000 extra jobs in the local government area over the next 25 years.

The concerns were reiterated at a Monday night meeting, held ahead of the council lodging its submission with the state government’s planning department.

Liberal councillor Steven Issa said the masterplan failed to address density. Wentworth Point was expected to host 9000 extra dwellings, with 5900 at the Carter Street Precinct, 3500 in Camellia and 6300 in Melrose Park over the next 25 years.

The Minns Government’s masterplan was hatched to confront the housing crisis, but many opponents say the region cannot cope with the population boom.

“We’ve got the highest density suburb in the country in Wentworth Point. This only exacerbates this issue,’’ he said.

“Adding all those things together will add an extra 33,000 dwellings just in the Rosehill ward and this is probably within a 5km radius of this site.

“When we look at all these things in total, and we’re talking about over 100,000 extra within this radius … we’re simply not going to cope.’’

He also hit out at mega transport projects, such as light rail stage two and the metro, as “not enough”.

“We can’t currently get in and out of Hill Rd,’’ he said.

“We currently can’t get in and out of Australia Ave. That’s the reality of the situation. How are we going to put an extra 100,000 people in there without upgrading Hill Rd, without putting extra buses to Lidcombe station?’’

He continued the barrage of criticism against the project, saying it failed to consider the impacts on other suburbs.

An artist's impression of apartments near the future Sydney Olympic Park metro station.

“It’s done in isolation with the rest of the city, it’s done in isolation with the rest of our ward and it’s going to come at the expense of our residents,’’ he said.

“The Sydney Olympic Park Authority and the government can move this motion and meet their housing targets and do it on the back of our residents, but it’s this council and our staff that’s left to pick up the pieces once this is all done and built.’’

Councillor Patricia Prociv echoed the complaints.

“It’s not just a matter of jamming more people into smaller spaces and thinking it’s all right because it’s residential and people need somewhere to live,’’ she said.

“They also need other things to go with it.’’

Councillor Michael Ng also had “grave concerns” about the peninsula’s growth and neighbouring suburbs.

“This plan only has the nice rainbows, grass and bush and playing fields around Sydney Olympic Park …,’’ he said.

“There is no way we can support this amount of development without an increase in road infrastructure, health infrastructure and education infrastructure.’’

He said residents were already suffering with traffic, noise and an infrastructure void.

“Residents are screaming in Newington when there are major events at the moment. Residents at Wentworth Point are screaming about things like noise and a lack of resources,’’ he said.

“We do welcome an upgrade to Olympic Park, but we do need to ensure residents nearby are being looked after because it’s not only Olympic Park that is impacted by this plan. It is everyone else around it.’’

Impacts of major events at Sydney Olympic Park spill into neighbouring suburbs, where “residents are screaming” over noise. Picture: Flavio Brancaleone

The council’s submission targeted key issues in the form of a lack of jobs, infrastructure – particularly hospitals and schools – and the need to provide “stronger green spaces”.

The submission slammed the government’s prioritisation of housing over jobs, saying it threatened Olympic Park’s potential as an employment centre for Greater Sydney.

“Commercial land should be safeguarded to ensure the precinct’s economic significance,’’ it stated.

Concerns over poor public transport were also highlighted.

“The proposed increase in population is dependent on the timely delivery of infrastructure and services,’’ the submission read.

“A commitment is required to transport upgrades, to manage impacts on surrounding areas including Newington, and adequate provision of schools and community infrastructure.’’

The council also agreed to write to the Sydney Olympic Park Authority to see how it could work together on delivering an extra 150,000 jobs by 2050.

Originally published as Parramatta Council lodges feedback on Sydney Olympic Park masterplan