The government boosters for the WestConnex motorway used to argue that it would solve Parramatta Road’s traffic issues. WestConnex, they argued, would enable a reduction of traffic and speeds along Parramatta Road which was vital to its renewal. The new road came, the old sewer stayed. Business as usual for Sydney.
The government should return to that vision – of a repurposed Parramatta Road via a concerted strategy of land use and transport integration. Assisting them are plans by the former Urban Growth agency and a recent document from Committee for Sydney, “Reclaiming Parramatta Road”.
This suggests combining traffic reduction with road-space reallocation for, and new investment in, public and active transport, together with new pedestrian crossings and well-designed stopping places for cars and cycles at key “villages” along Parramatta Road. Leveraging these initiatives with new housing development and a strong urban design and place-led vision is crucial to the revitalisation Sydney’s “longest street” or central boulevard.
George St Sydney, looking west towards Chinatown.Credit: Ben Symons
Surprisingly, the joint announcement suggests existing transit capacity is sufficient to absorb the new homes and states only that “throughout the rezoning process, active transport connections” will all be examined.
Examined?
A stronger commitment is required to strategic mass transport investment vital to achieve the transformation the NSW premier and all the councils along the road want. Light rail turned George St from a commercial liability to a global asset, catalysing the creation of Australia’s most walkable boulevard. We can do something like this on Parramatta Road. The 8000 homes should also have limited car spaces or even get subsidies for using mass transit.
How will transport and place-making infrastructure be paid for? A “beneficiary pays” approach. All who gain from new government infrastructure – not just developers but landowners too, who are beneficiaries of government rezonings – should share some of the value they gain with the community. This “strategic contributions” process should be in place quickly so landowners and developers and infrastructure providers can plan on the basis of it.
Parramatta Road can be “reclaimed”. Government needs to widen its vision and integrate its activities. Let Sydney’s central boulevard be the exemplar of how to do this and an inspiration to do more across our city.
Tim Williams is an advisor on urban development and a former CEO of the Committee for Sydney
