Home Property Australia Parramatta Plan lacks essential detail

Parramatta Plan lacks essential detail

  • September 21, 2017

Parramatta Plan lacks essential detail 

The Property Council recently responded to the Greater Parramatta Interim Land Use and Infrastructure Implementation Plan (the Plan).

The Plan includes 12 precincts with their own opportunities, challenges and in some cases, masterplans or strategies already in place. These 12 areas are Westmead; Parramatta North; Parramatta CBD; Harris Park and Rosehill; Rydalmere; Carlingford Corridor; Silverwater; Camellia; Sydney Olympic Park; Homebush; Parramatta Road; and Wentworth Point.

The Plan draws together the various strategies and plans that are currently in place to guide development of the area. It also reflects the work of the Greater Sydney Commission thorough the District Plans and A Plan for Growing Sydney – Towards our Greater Sydney 2056 in addition to the work currently underway on the Future Transport Strategy by Transport for NSW.

The Property Council is concerned that details outlining NSW Government development levies, namely Special Infrastructure Contributions (SICs), the Affordable Rental Housing Levy and Voluntary Planning Agreements (VPAs) are yet to be released. In addition, recent changes to local government Section 94 contributions, the removal of ‘caps’, casts further uncertainty over the feasibility of projects, with development costs largely being unknown. This lack of clarity and changes to local government charges makes it difficult to comment on the plan as the full financial impost is unknown.

While the plan is important to align planning priorities between levels of government, the plan does not include Metro West or the second stage of the light rail which will both be integral to future growth in the area. These projects could lead to a significantly greater number of dwellings and jobs for the area and are important to include to obtain a realistic picture of growth for the area.

Only some of the required infrastructure for the area is currently known.  The Plan clearly outlines the fact that more research is required to ascertain what social and recreational infrastructure and open space is required in the area with no research having been conducted since “desktop” research in 2015.

You can read our submission here and we will continue to work with the Department of Planning, the City of Parramatta, and the Greater Sydney Commission on the future of the greater Parramatta region.