Parramatta Rd Taskforce Thursday, 13 May 2004

In the lead-up to the Metropolitan Strategy for Sydney, the Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources, Craig Knowles, has announced a taskforce to plan and manage the revitalisation of Parramatta Road.

Up to $2 million will be provided by the State Government to get the ball rolling by supporting demonstration projects and planning and design work.

"Parramatta Road should be an iconic feature of Sydney. It is a main artery that most residents and visitors come into contact with.

Parramatta Rd: Existing

"But what we have at the moment is, in parts, a pretty uninspiring and decayed road which is nothing more than a conduit for vehicles in and out of the city.

Parramatta Rd: Landscaped

"That has to change. Parramatta Road can be a vibrant, functional and attractive thoroughfare with an active commercial heart, and a pleasant residential aspect," said Mr Knowles.

Parramatta Rd: With Light Rail

The Parramatta Road Group will be a partnership of local government and State Government. It will include the mayors of all the local government areas along the Parramatta Road corridor-Leichhardt, Marrickville, Ashfield, Burwood, Strathfield, Canada Bay and Auburn-as well as representatives from the Heritage Office and RTA and local members. Initially it will be chaired by the Director-General of DIPNR, Jennifer Westacott.

�"Today the Mayors of the seven councils involved, and the relevant state parliament representatives, met for the first time to discuss this proposal and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive.

'The Parramatta Road Group will reconvene on 27 May.

"We are all keen to move forward together as quickly as possible," said Mr Knowles.

The Parramatta Road Group will:

• Prepare plans for the four precincts along the corridor encompassing commercial and residential redevelopment opportunities sympathetic with the local character.
• Prepare design guidelines for the scale, form and appearance of buildings.
• Identify specific projects, including demonstration sites projects which may include 'display blocks' to illustrate design, housing, employment, streetscape and road space concepts.
• Research funding and finance initiatives.
• Develop governance arrangements for implementing Parramatta Road projects which embrace the role of local government and the community

The corridor will be divided into four precincts:

• Camperdown to Petersham (Leichhardt and Marrickville councils).
• Petersham to Croydon (Ashfield and Canada Bay councils).
• Croydon to Strathfield (Burwood and Canada Bay councils)
• Strathfield to Granville/Parramatta (Strathfield, Auburn and Canada Bay councils).

The area from Broadway to Mallet Road is within the City of Sydney and will be part of the inner city transport study.

"The Parramatta Road Group will work from a broad perspective, looking at the length of Parramatta Road and its relationship with the broader metropolitan region."