Council criticises North Parramatta rezoning plans for 2000 more homes
Slash the number of buildings, prioritise jobs over homes and protect heritage – the state government has come under fire from a Sydney council over plans to add 2000 homes and 25,000 students to a suburb.
NSW
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Parramatta Council has hit out at the Parramatta North rezoning plans for a litany of shortcomings and wants the government to axe multiple buildings and deliver more jobs for the suburb’s influx of residents and students.
Criticisms were outlined in the council’s draft submission following the state government’s plans that surfaced last month to deliver 12,000 jobs by 2047, 2000 extra homes and a new Sydney University campus for about 25,000 students as part of a residential, commercial and health and educational precinct.
But the council called for assurance of primary and high schools, childcare centres, retailers, a 1500sq m library and community centre, and for at least 600 of the 2000 homes to be affordable dwellings.
The document, signed off by the council’s planning executive director Jennifer Concato and chief executive Gail Connolly, also expressed key concerns over jobs, infrastructure, heritage and traffic.
It called for the removal of five buildings on the 42-hectare site including two close to Parramatta Female Factory because they would “result in adverse impacts” to the heritage landmark, which is at the centre of a bid to gain World Heritage listing.
The council has also called for smaller buildings.
Red flags were raised about the lack of commercial space allocated for jobs.
The council wants an employment plan to “explicitly exclude any residential accommodation” such as build-to-rent developments, which would pose “a significant threat to commercial land”.
“In this regard, the submission firmly seeks to ensure that the ‘housing crisis of today’ does not become the ‘jobs crisis of tomorrow’,’’ the submission said.
“Although residential development is considered necessary to help activate Parramatta North, residential development should not come at the expense of commercial and educational floor area.’’
With 1620 new dwellings approved across the Parramatta local government area in the past financial year, the council has the highest number of housing approvals in NSW and has exceeded the state government’s targets.
The council also called for the state government to help out with its infrastructure backlog by asking it to reverse a decision that would make it exempt from footing the bill for several projects such as indoor sports courts, parks and sports field upgrades worth $188m.
If fears that if it backs out of the developer contributions, services would be delayed and place “additional, unplanned pressure on existing facilities”.
The Parramatta North project is also projected to inflame traffic, with the council warning upgrades would be needed at locations including Church and Dunlop streets.
“Traffic congestion both in and around this area is already severe, particularly at peak hour periods, and the incoming population will increase congestion significantly,’’ the submission stated.
“For example, the James Ruse Drive and Windsor Rd, and North Rocks Rd and Church St intersections are already highly congested and will be utilised by future residents noting that public transport options do not always provide for the most direct and efficient mode of transport.’’
The council has requested the completion of Parramatta light rail stage 2 before buildings are occupied.
Parramatta heritage advocate Suzette Meade echoed the council’s concerns.
“Let’s be very clear, despite the usual political spin when you actually read the plans it’s worse than the 2017 proposal for the North Parra heritage precinct – the same 26-storey maximum height and even a greater floor area being proposed,’’ she said.
“It was great to see Parramatta Council take such a strong stand on the city’s heritage landscapes; calling for multiple buildings to be removed – some just 15m from the national heritage listed buildings.’’
However, Business Western Sydney executive director David Borger has supported the government plan for housing near the Westmead Health and Innovation District.
“We think it’s a great location for housing but also protects all the heritage on the site,’’ Mr Borger, who is also the Housing Now chair, said.
“In the middle of a housing crisis it would be a shame not to put housing there for key workers.
“I’ve lived here all my life. I’ve been walking through this precinct for 30-40 years. I love the precinct but I think it can be improved.’’
Parramatta state Labor MP Donna Davis defended the proposal.
“Our government recognises that we are in the midst of a housing crisis and that we are at risk of losing a generation of young people,’’ she said.
”The Parramatta North proposal not only includes housing. It retains half of the precinct for open space and allows for a dynamic mixed-use precinct. The proposal includes commercial and retail offerings, a new health and innovation precinct, as well as a new university campus to drive job growth.’’
The council has been granted an extension to make a formal submission by March 17.
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