Sydney Olympic Park masterplan draws criticism from Wentworth Point residents
A masterplan to transform a major Sydney sports hub into a thriving suburb has drawn criticism from residents of a neighbouring suburb still crippled with a shortfall of services.
NSW
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A major transformation of Sydney Olympic Park, where homes for 30,000 residents are slated, has drawn criticism from the neighbouring suburb, with fears they are still missing out on services despite being the most crowded suburb in Australia.
Wentworth Point is yet to have a public park and the promised light rail despite its 15,000 inhabitants crammed into multistorey apartment towers.
Under the NSW Government’s Sydney Olympic Park masterplan, which is now released for public feedback, the suburb will be transformed from a post-event ghost town into an urban tourist and residential metropolis with new shops, restaurants and a Cockatoo Island-style events hot spot with the conversion of a naval depot on the site.
A projected 25,000 extra people will call it home, taking its population to 30,000 residents who will be serviced with two new schools, four new sporting fields and 10 playgrounds and more hotels.
The overhaul is likely to generate 32,000 jobs.
But Wentworth Point critics have labelled the project as a snub to their suburb.
Resident Mark Green pointed out 25,000 residents were projected to live in Wentworth Point by 2040 – 10 years sooner than Sydney Olympic Park houses the same population.
Despite that he said there was “very different public infrastructure” plans for Wentworth Point dwellers, who were treated like “second class citizens”.
“Sydney Olympic Park gets four playing fields to zero, 10 playgrounds to two, seven public places to zero,’’ Mr Green said.
He is also sceptical that the government would deliver the long-promised Peninsula Park by 2025.
In May, after a decade fighting for a public park in Wentworth Point, the government announced it would open Peninsula Park by mid-2026 but with several conditions: it will be shared with Wentworth Point High School and only open on weekends, and before and after school.
A Landcom proposal for a 406-apartment complex on the Burroway Rd site triggered more opposition because the park size will shrink from 3.9 hectares to 3.1 hectares.
Workers have started demolishing old concrete structures on the site and earthworks are slated to begin on the Parramatta River-facing park in “coming weeks”.
The battle for stage two of the Parramatta light rail was also hard fought, but in June the Minns Government pledged $2bn to extend the project to Sydney Olympic Park.
Parramatta state Labor MP Donna Davis encouraged the community to lodge feedback into the masterplan before November 25.
“I acknowledge that the former Liberal government fell dismally short on delivering critical infrastructure for Wentworth Point and the Olympic Peninsula as a whole,” Ms Davis said.
“Since being elected I have secured funding and started works on a new school and preschool at Carter Street, upgrading Wentworth Point Public School, building peninsula park, a brand new light rail, major improvements to Hill Rd and Bennelong Parkway as well as seven new ferries and increased ferry services from Sydney Olympic Park to Circular Quay.’’
Business Western Sydney welcomed the Sydney Olympic Park masterplan and its benefits to Wentworth Point.
“The reality is that we need more green space and local facilities for communities across western Sydney,’’ executive director David Borger said.
“Connecting more people to the fantastic Olympic venues and the marvel green spaces in Sydney Olympic Park and surrounds is a smart way to make sure we get the most value out of the assets.’’
The masterplan is due to be finalised in mid 2025.
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Originally published as Sydney Olympic Park masterplan draws criticism from Wentworth Point residents
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