Council puts Parramatta 2050 blueprint vision on public exhibition

Parramatta’s ‘visionary’ blueprint for the next three decades could make it the nation’s festival capital but critics say it fails to demonstrate how it will transform into a global city. Watch the video.

Parramatta’s blueprint for the next 26 years has been described as bold and transformative but critics watered down the glossy promotion and said the plan was prepared with “indecent haste” and lacked global status.

The council’s draft Parramatta 2050 – A Long Term Strategic Vision for the City is now open for public feedback and outlines how five key precincts – Parramatta, Silverwater, Westmead and North Parramatta, Rosehill-Camellia, and Sydney Olympic Park will transform for the half a million people expected to call the area home over the next 2 ½ decades.

The population explosion will almost double, with about 256,000 inhabitants now living in one of the nation’s fastest growing regions.

Camellia-Rosehill is being dubbed as a “world-class example of urban regeneration” that would be established as the nation’s first example of a city that responds to the United Nations’ sustainable development goals.

At Silverwater, the jail would “be reimagined” to contribute to “global Parramatta’’ and the suburb would become a “future jobs district”.

Parramatta Square is in the centre of the CBD. Picture: John Feder

Parramatta’s CBD would be the “headquarters district”, while Westmead and North Parramatta would be the centre of health and innovation, and Sydney Olympic Park would be the “celebration district”.

“Parramatta 2050 is unlike anything council has done before,’’ Lord Mayor Pierre Esber said.

“It has the potential to be this chamber’s single biggest legacy to our community.

“The strategy delivers a bold, long term vision for our city – one that leverages natural assets and strengths.’’

Independent councillor Georgina Valjak praised Parramatta: 2050 for having “something for everybody” and encouraging investment in the city.

But the project sparked a raft of criticisms for being incomprehensive and devoid of residents’ input.

“The words that come to mind here are ‘indecent haste’, around this document’’ independent councillor Lorraine Wearne said.

“If we truly believe we’re a global city, then we should be prepared to actually let the community … come along on the journey with us.

“I was a great fan of having this process go ahead – I was right from the start – totally supportive of the fact that we should be a global city.

“But I don’t see in the document what we’re saying we do that’s actually making us a global city. Nothing in there stands out at me and says ‘this is why Parramatta is a global city’.

“I can see nothing screaming at me that says ‘here’s our Eiffel Tower’ or ‘here’s what we do that makes us a global city’.’’

Some councillors also compared the Parramatta document to the Sydney City Council’s vision, which took longer to finalise.

“I for one will not be pushed into the indecent haste that this original motion is doing. We need more consultation,’’ Cr Wearne said.

Sydney Fringe festival director Kerri Glasscock (right) has welcomed Sydney Olympic Park as a ‘celebrations precinct’.

Parramatta Leagues Club president Greg Monaghan, who is one of the vision’s stakeholders, welcomed the plan.

Sydney Fringe festival chief executive Kerri Glasscock said Parramatta was “waiting to be the event capital of NSW” with a walkable CBD that could rival Adelaide as the nation’s festival leader

“It’s already event-ready,’’ she said.

“There is an immense opportunity here to leverage Parramatta’s key assets including the Parramatta River, the historic buildings and parklands for events and festivals in particular.’’

Submissions into the draft are open to the public, with the original consultation period extended from 28 to 60 days.

Feedback closes on July 19. Have your say here.

Originally published as Council puts Parramatta 2050 blueprint vision on public exhibition