Parramatta’s transformation into a ‘Central River City’ takes a step closer to reality with the NSW government to spend $124.5 million on rezoning a northern precinct.
The government is promising up to 10 hectares of landscaped space and heritage protection in the 33 hectares of Parramatta North land that is to be redeveloped for mixed use.
Parramatta North is situated across the river from Parramatta CBD (along the new light rail corridor). It is connected to two hospitals, the Sydney Metro Line (which feeds to the new western Sydney airport) and Circular Quay via a river ferry service.
REZONING HIGHLIGHTS
- about 2000 new homes (with ‘at least’ 100 of them affordable).
- Mixed building types two to 23 stories high.
- up to 12,000 potential new jobs in health services, research, education and supporting industries.
- Provide for a new university campus.
- new community facilities such as an upgraded heritage-listed hall, a First Nations pavilion and pedestrian amenities alongside the ‘Green’.
- up to 10 hectares of open space, including sports fields, extended riverside pathways, parks and gardens, plazas and play spaces
- a country-approach to landscaping through enhanced riparian corridors, replacing native species, water-sensitive urban design and natural play spaces. For more about the rezoning, visit the NSW Planning Portal.
The government says that over four years, underused state land will be sold off for housing, create new jobs and for mixed-use development.
PARRAMATTA NORTH BROUGHT INTO THE FOLD
Lands and Property Minister Steve Kamper says “the new Parramatta North community will stitch together Parramatta CBD with the Westmead Health and Innovation Precinct … to establish Sydney’s new ‘Central River City’ that has long been proposed, but not delivered until now”.
The city would cover six local government areas: Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Parramatta, Georges River, The Hills and Blacktown; click here to read more about the concept.
NSW Premier Chris Minns calls the rezoning “a great opportunity to create a new community”.
Planning and Public Spaces Minister Paul Scully claims “good neighbourhoods don’t happen by accident; they are built through a combination of careful planning and the right infrastructure”.
State MP for Parramatta Donna Davis calls the rezoning “a great outcome for our local community”.
“We are committed to maintaining the six-hectare Parramatta Female Factory and Institutions Precinct in government ownership; it is not included in the rezoning,” she says.
“The approved master plan and rezoning reduced the number and scale of building adjacent to the precinct, opening sightlines and vistas to and from the heritage buildings.”
More than 30 heritage buildings have been identified, the government’s planning documents show, including Old Parramatta Gaol and Old Government House.
Aboriginal artefacts reveal the area has been settled for at least 10,000 years while the Domain-Old Government House area is state, national and world heritage listed, the government notes.
