Parramatta Pedestrian ‘Spine’ to be Fast-Tracked

The NSW government has indicated it will fast-track plans to create a connection it says will support about 3600 new homes at Parramatta.

It said $10.6 million would be used to improved pedestrian connection through the spine of Parramatta, linking Parramatta Square to Powerhouse Parramatta and the foreshore.

The project will create access from the river to four forms of public transport in the CBD and include the creation of new green public space of 3300sq m, about half the size of a football field, that will incorporate outdoor dining for precinct businesses.

Funding has also been allocated for new intersections at George and Phillip streets, footpath widening and planting of new large shade trees. 

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said the project would help the government meet its commitment to provide “enabling infrastructure alongside housing”.

“This project is a great example of collaboration between councils and the state that will provide the infrastructure needed to deliver thousands more new homes for people in growing communities.”

Parramatta’s status as Sydney’s second CBD continues to grow with new project being put forward almost daily.

However, it is far from plain sailing for the city 24km west of the CBD—Meriton boss Harry Triguboff took the opportunity of a court win over the city council to deliver a broadside last month.

Triguboff’s action against the City of Parramatta over the developer’s planned 30-storey Epping tower resulted in a win for Meriton in the Land and Environment Court.

A stoush over carparking was at the heart of the disagreement.

At the time, Trigoboff claimed the win was a “major victory”.

▲ A render of Meriton’s planned 30-storey tower.

“It is clear that more and more people want to live in apartments but when council imposes conditions that go against the market then we have an obligation to fight for what is right,” Triguboff said in a media statement. 

“Our buyers and renters rely on their cars. Some use them during the week, others may only use them on the weekends, so to assume hundreds of residents would move into a building with inadequate parking is naive.” 

Triguboff criticised outdated rules and inflexibility for the issue.

Meanwhile, this month, Drivas Property Group’s plans for a cantilevered tower above the Murrays’ Building were refused. 

It followed a court battle over a nearby site in which Sydney Metro was ordered to pay $190 million to G&J Drivas Pty Ltd for land.

The Murrays’ Building is within Parramatta Square, a precinct undergoing a $2.8-billion transformation by the Walker Corporation, and backs on to the town hall and Centenary Square.

The Parramatta council voted unanimously to refuse the six-storey commercial plans above the 100-year-old, heritage-listed building.