Major developments shaping the Parramatta area

From private hospitals to luxury hotels and soaring apartment towers, a string of major developments are slated to alter Parramatta’s landscape. Find out the latest on these projects.

The 483 apartments planned for Gregory Place at Harris Park is one of the most contentious developments in the community.

Multiple developments worth more than $1.9bn are transforming the community from Westmead to Parramatta, Oatlands and Harris Park.

But many of the projects have also polarised the public. Find out more about what’s in the pipeline.

Westmead Catholic super school campus

A $120m proposal for a “super school campus” at Westmead has generated controversy from the get-go in 2019 thanks to a huge influx of students leading to a congested bottleneck opposite the state’s largest hospital.

The Parramatta Catholic Education Diocese’s Westmead Catholic Community Education Campus will include a five-storey primary school for 1680 students who will transfer from Sacred Heart Primary and join pupils from Mother Teresa Primary, which is already on the site.

Alongside the junior school, Catherine McAuley and Parramatta Marist high schools exist, but the “super campus” could see the number of students explode from 2700 to 6000.

A groundswell of objections has surrounded the project, with one of the primary concerns being traffic choking streets leading to Westmead Hospital.

A church for 400 worshippers is also planned for the site.

The diocese says there is a demand for the development. In 2021, 700 enrolment applications for the three schools at Darcy Rd had to be rejected. The state government will determine the project.

St John’s Anglican Cathedral site

Parramatta has another heritage battle on its hands with the Anglican Church Property Trust proposing $400m multistorey buildings to loom over the charming 220-year-old St John’s Cathedral.

The plans will leave the sandstone cathedral untouched, but the development would mean bulldozing the 111-year-old heritage-listed parish hall to make way for a 45-storey tower to house an auditorium, cafe and offices.

A smaller building on Hunter St would signal the demolition of the church-owned office and form part of what Reverend Bruce Morrison dubbed “Parramatta Square West”.

A concept design shows the north and south tower directly to the right of the cathedral.

Opponents have lashed out at the church for “vandalising heritage” with towers set to surround and overshadow the cathedral but Mr Morrison described the plans as a good urban outcome for the city.

In November, Parramatta Council voted to advance the project to the Planning Department, which will ultimately determine the application.

A fortnight after that meeting, a rescission motion that attempted to block the development was put before the council but once again failed to proceed.

Royal Parramatta Private Hospital

St John’s neighbour will be the $200m, 24-storey Royal Parramatta Private Hospital, which will occupy 41-43 Hunter St Parramatta if given the final tick of approval.

In a change that would please heritage advocates, ICC Development Group’s ambitious project no longer requires The Manse to be demolished; a proposal that was in the original plans.

Instead, the double-storey heritage-listed building gracing the corner of Marsden and Hunter streets, will be retained and converted from a legal practice to a cafe and history museum.

The Manse was built between 1895 and 1897 for Scottish Reverend John Peterson, who was ordained into St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church at Parramatta.

Architect Francis Ernest designed the federation abode.

“We are very excited in retaining The Manse, preserving the heritage and maintaining social values of Parramatta,’’ ICC Development Group chief executive Harold Dakin said.

“It’s one of its kind and perhaps a good example of thought-out design and engineering process.’’

The Royal Parramatta Private Hospital would be 24 storeys.

The retention of the structure follows community feedback.

The swanky original plans also included the five-star Sheraton on the Square Hotel, a helipad and Michelin-star restaurant, but were withdrawn in a scaled-back scheme.

A hotel is still planned under the second phase.

The hospital will house 150 beds, operating theatres, maternity suites, medical suites, and research and development spaces.

ICC is also “exploring opportunities” for teaching and research facilities, and undergraduate and postgraduate medical and nursing training.

“The proposal would provide a unique opportunity to deliver improved and much-needed health and wellness facilities to support the Parramatta community and its surroundings,’’ the development statement said.

The project would also include offices. The government is expected to decide in July.

Former RIDBC site at North Rocks

Critics fear the $785m North Rocks Village — where 1080 homes are earmarked on the former Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children site — could jeopardise the suburb’s leafy streetscapes.

The project reached a stalemate in October after developer EG Funds Management, and Parramatta Council failed to reach an agreement, particularly over building heights.

EG’s executive chairman Michael Easson wants the rezoning to be taken out of the council’s hands and lodged with the Planning Department, which has an ultimate say in the proposal.

The North Rocks Village isn’t wanted in the suburb.

But it hit another setback in November when the council upheld its decision to reject plans.

The development would also feature parkland, a library, a community hall and library between four and six storeys, and 700sqm for offices, a childcare centre, a general shop and a medical centre.

It must switch rezoning from R2 (low density) to R3 and R4, which means buildings could increase from 9m to 25m.

It would be built on the site once occupied by the RIDBC, which is relocating to Macquarie University.

The homes will comprise 690 units, 236 townhouses and nine detached dwellings, as well as an aged care centre with between 60 and 80 beds and 145 independent living units.

In October Parramatta Local Planning Panel did not endorse or reject the plans, noting significant differences between the council and developers.

Ultimately, the state government will determine the project.

Block H, Wentworth Point

As one of the nation’s most densely populated suburbs, Wentworth Point is also starved of infrastructure, making most development proposals contentious, especially Block H, where 1000 apartments are planned.

Developer Billbergia proposes two 45-storey towers with 1000 apartments — three times the size of the original proposal.

Building on the only pocket of vacant land left in the suburb has sparked more objections about crowding and loss of views for scores of apartment dwellers in neighbouring properties.

In September, Parramatta Council ignored staff advice to reject Billbergia’s scheme to change the development controls to permit a taller apartment block of 45 storeys instead of 25 levels.

That did not deter an army of residents urging the council to reconsider 45-storey towers for Block H, which is formally known as Bennelong Cove, later that month.

Wentworth Point resident Matt Weller said of the 763 submissions the council received about the complex, 64 per cent opposed the changes.

He called the amendment “a dagger to the hearts of residents of Wentworth Point”.

Flora Sescie, who has lived in Wentworth Point for three years, wanted the units’ height to be capped at 25 storeys under the existing controls.

“Although Wentworth Point is a great community, it still faces a lot of problems — crowded traffic on Hill Rd, not having enough public facilities, lack of open spaces for kids … and all these problems are caused by a single key element — high-density population,’’ she said.

But resident James Cowie has slammed “NIMBYs” and wants the suburb completed so they can “enjoy our place, our home”.

Bennelong Cove is informally known as Block H at Wentworth Point.

“I’ve read and heard the voices of the vocal minority and need to table there are more residents in support of progress than there are opposed to it,’’ he said.

Mr Cowie, who has lived at Wentworth Point for 12 years, said there were 14,500 residents in the suburb.

“The community expects council to listen to all residents and engage in open debate, not just be guided by a small minority voice of NIMBYs,’’ he said.

“There is a very strong community support for those who were not swayed by the loud minority voice and voted for the public exhibition to proceed.’’

Under the plans for Block H, which is at Burroway Rd and Footbridge Blvd, one of the towers would be constructed in a zone that only allows eight-storey towers.

Billbergia will now have time to prepare more information for the proposal, which the state government will ultimately determine.

Bennelong Cove could feature an outdoor swimming pool, a community pavilion and childcare centre, a foreshore promenade with an amphitheatre, a club, a pub and waterfront dining.

Gregory Place, Harris Park

Heritage groups and the Our Lady of Lebanon Co-Cathedral are among the opponents for almost 500 apartments planned for 2a Gregory Place at Harris Park.

The $147m apartment complex will squeeze in 483 affordable housing units across three blocks on a former pharmaceutical factory site.

Pacific Community Housing’s proposal includes buildings ranging from four to eight storeys.

Opponents fear the apartments will encroach on the historic cluster of landmarks, including heritage-listed Hambledon Cottage and Elizabeth Farm neighbouring the site.

“It’s going to destroy the whole heritage vista,’’ Parramatta and District Historical Society president Jeffrey Allen said.

Before: The National Trust has provided an artist impression of the site before the Gregory Place development.

“We’ve got one of the most important heritage sites in Australia. Elizabeth Farm’s the oldest house in Australia, and Hambledon Cottage was built in 1824 for accommodation for John Macarthur’s family and friends.’’

In its submission to the Planning Department, the National Trust of Australia’s NSW branch objected to the “extremely sensitive” site, which “undermined” the setting for the historic properties.

However, Pacific Community Housing director Matthew Daniel said the project would benefit low to medium-income earners, who would be given “housing choices with longer tenancies at lower cost than the market”.

“Sydney is a terrific place to live if you have access to housing that is safe and affordable,’’ Mr Daniel said.

After: A National Trust artist’s impression of how the unit development would dwarf the historic homes.

“However, there is simply not enough new affordable housing being produced where people want to live.

“Unfortunately, it seems to be a growing trend that getting a home in Sydney close to where someone wants to live and work is being regulated by whether your parents are wealthy or not.’’

He said Harris Park was chosen because of its proximity to Parramatta and because it was experiencing housing stress, with a vacancy rate of just 1.0 per cent in the 2150 postcode, which also takes in Parramatta.

He said the median rent for a two-bedroom unit in postcode 2150 was $552.14 in early December, up by 38 per cent since the same time in 2021.

A concept design of the unit development at Harris Park.

Crescent Parklands, Holroyd

A $525m development perched on one of Sydney’s busiest intersections got the green light from the state government despite objections the 1255 dwellings would create an even bigger traffic nightmare.

The Crescent is on the former WesTrac site at the M4 and Woodville Rd, dubbed one of NSW’s most notorious intersections.

Media mogul Kerry Stokes and his son Ryan are behind the bold project, lodged with their Australian Capital Equity Property group.

The development, which received government approval for rezoning in March, features apartments soaring to 28 storeys or 96m, and has faced fierce opposition from Cumberland Council.

The Crescent Parklands at Holroyd sits on a busy intersection.

Adding to the traffic woes are the site’s proximity to the busy Church St and Parramatta Rd.

Objectors have also said the nearest train stations of Harris Park, Granville and Parramatta were still too far to properly serve the community.

Public transport advocate Roydon Ng echoed the council’s criticism about the “black spot”.

“One would think that walking past busy and noisy Woodville Rd, and along Parramatta Rd to Granville, and then also potentially under the M4 to Harris Park, isn’t particularly appealing for commuters,’’ he said in April.

However, the developers said the 3.87 hectare development was in a good position and would provide much-needed housing to the community, including 90 units classified as affordable housing for the fast-growing area.

Ryan Stokes said: “Crescent Parklands will deliver to the community extensive local pedestrian and cycle upgrades, a large public park including a children’s playground, affordable housing as well as significant traffic upgrades, retailers, restaurants and cafes for families.’’

The development application is likely to be approved next year.

Oatlands Golf Club site

Known for its stately houses that line the streets of the wealthiest suburb in the Parramatta region, Oatlands residents are not accustomed to battling proposals for multistorey unit complexes, but a development for seniors has caused an uproar in the community.

Oatlands Golf Club has proposed hundreds of units, a double-storey clubhouse, restaurant, cafe and 400-space carpark at Bettington Rd.

In March, a state planning panel approved part of the plans but deemed 193 apartments for five blocks, ranging from three to six storeys, excessive, meaning plans had to be revised.

Mirvac now plans to develop 162 units and 14 terraces on the site.

The golf club has plans to populate the greens with apartments. Picture: NSW Planning Portal

The apartments would be built over eight-storey, seven-storey and two four-storey blocks. Locals fear the traffic would worsen Bettington Rd “with at least 400 extra cars”.

Parramatta Council has objected to the project, but the state government will decide its future.

Even Parramatta federal Labor MP Andrew Charlton has backed residents’ calls to dismiss the development and said a petition garnered 300 signatures protesting the plans.

There have also been three community forums showing the potent opposition.

“They feel it was dumped on them without consultation,’’ Mr Charlton said.

The site is near where the three Abdallah children and their cousin were killed at the hands of a drunk driver in February 2020.

The golf club rejected the Abdallah family’s request to build a small garden memorial on part of the greens, but it later emerged the club had plans to develop the site.

The next step involves Mirvac submitting a development application to the council before an independent panel reviews it.

Oatlands Golf Club was approached for comment.

Intercontinental Hotel

A plethora of hotels are opening in Parramatta and the five-star InterContinental is leading the charge of bringing luxury accommodation to the CBD when the global brand starts welcoming guests in 2025.

The 200-room hotel will feature a rooftop swimming pool, restaurant, club lounge and bar atop the Peter Wynn’s Score site at Church St as part of the Holdmark development.

Intercontinental Hotel will be a plush addition to Parramatta’s accommodation offerings.

The 32-storey hotel and 23-floor commercial tower will generate 800 construction jobs and 200 subcontractor roles. Overall, the project will deliver 360 direct and 1000 indirect jobs.

The Murray Brothers building will also be retained.

After some delays, the project now has the green light to start construction in early 2023.

Before the InterContinental project was revealed, Parramatta was anticipating the plush Hilton Hotel to open on Macquarie St but plans for the 29-storey hotel with a ballroom, restaurants, hospitality school and bar would have been thrown in doubt.

Construction for the $200m, 245-room project was due to begin in March but nearby workers have been told the project has been axed.

However, a spokesman for Ledrae, which owns the building to be demolished for the hotel, said the project was still proceeding after blaming the delay on Covid lockdowns and the light rail construction.

Originally published as Major developments shaping the Parramatta area