PARRAMATTA'S PRIORITY GROWTH PLANS
03 Aug 2017
The New South Wales Government has announced the creation of the Greater Parramatta Priority Growth Area. The 20-year plan will grow homes, jobs, open space and service centres for the area’s expanding population.
The Priority Growth Area in Paramatta covers an area of almost 3500 hectares. This section of Sydney is comprised of land in twelve precincts – Westmead, Parramatta North, Parramatta CBD, Harris Park and Rosehill, Camellia, Rydalmere, Carlingford Corridor (including Telopea and Dundas), Silverwater, Sydney Olympic Park and Carter Street, Wentworth Point, Homebush and Parramatta Road.
The 20-year plan for these areas aims to create new residential and commercial infrastructure in the face of the areas growing population, it is currently forecast that over half of Sydney’s population will live west of Parramatta by 2036. The plan forecasts that over 110,000 new jobs will be created and 72,000 homes built as part of the NSW Government’s plan for a vibrant Greater Parramatta.
The Land Use Infrastructure Implementation Plan responds to the Greater Sydney Commission’s draft vision for the Greater Parramatta to Olympic Park corridor which will bring a step closer, the vision of growing Parramatta as Sydney’s second CBD.
Minister for Planning and Housing, Anthony Roberts explains:
“Greater Parramatta is a popular place for people to live, but has more room to grow. The plan will see more than 72,000 new homes built in the 12 precincts which will help first homebuyers get a foot on the housing ladder.”
The Urban Taskforce responded by saying the government’s announcement of the Priority Growth Area is essential to drive growth in this important area of Sydney but raised concerns in regards to infrastructure levies.
“The new Priority Growth Area for Greater Parramatta sets the agenda for growth in this important precinct,” said Urban Taskforce CEO, Chris Johnson. “Many of our members have landholdings in the precinct and are keen to proceed with development but we have a concern about the extent of infrastructure levies that will be applied.”
“The NSW Government’s recent announcement of the removal of the cap on contributions to local infrastructure funding has already slowed down housing projects in the supply pipeline. It is clear that the government is moving away from funding much of the essential infrastructure needed for new housing and passing this additional cost on to the development industry. This will only lead to an increase in dwelling prices just at the time housing affordability has become a critical issue affecting many families in Sydney and NSW.”