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- 12 May 2004
Parramatta Road Redevelopment
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Ms ANGELA D'AMORE: My question without notice is directed to the Minister for Infrastructure and Planning. What is the latest information on the redevelopment of Parramatta Road?
Mr CRAIG KNOWLES: This morning the honourable member for Strathfield and I had had a very successful and cordial meeting with the mayors, general managers and local members of the inner west to begin a process of revitalising Parramatta Road. I think everyone understands the problem: a strip of road in economic decay providing more of a barrier than a link to those communities. The regeneration of Parramatta Road represents a huge opportunity to create linked urban villages as places for jobs and new houses.
Mr Andrew Tink: Point of order: The question was about Parramatta Road. Why is the Minister for Roads, Mr Scully, not answering a question about Parramatta Road? Why is the Minister for Infrastructure and Planning answering the question?
Mr SPEAKER: Order! There is no point of order. I call the honourable member for Epping to order for the third time.
Mr CRAIG KNOWLES: It is a pity that people like the honourable member for Epping could not have been at the meeting this morning to see terrific local representatives of their communities working together, rather than criticising, carping and taking stupid points of order.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Murrumbidgee to order for the second time.
Mr CRAIG KNOWLES: It is almost like Thursday has been moved forward to Wednesday; it has that feel about it today. As the mayors indicated this morning, Parramatta Road offers a real chance for major revitalisation, a chance to re-establish a community feeling and a village-style atmosphere throughout that strip. This is a chance to radically transform and revitalise that important part of our city. Parts of Parramatta Road around those terrific old suburbs like Lewisham, Petersham, Ashfield and Homebush have very fine and proud histories. Over the years much of the life has been sucked out of those suburbs as Parramatta Road continued to widen and define the urban experience. What were once vibrant and viable centres within walking distance of localised facilities and services are now a plethora of whited-out shopfronts and to let signs.
It is a classic example of a community in decline. Although there are still many good and viable retail services along Parramatta Road much of the urban atmosphere and capacity to provide good support for communities has disappeared. Many of the businesses are clinging on by their fingertips. They are marginal at best. Any plans to revitalise Parramatta Road must involve reviving the economic worth of the properties that front it. This calls for a comprehensive plan that goes way beyond some of the historic vision documents to deliver projects that invest in the properties and the public assets, and target the repopulation of that part of our city.
Opportunities for shop-top housing and higher value retail and commercial activity must be explored. A number of the councils have already embarked on that journey. The mayors presented some terrific work, contrary to the nonsense we get from the other side of the House, and members would have appreciated seeing the skills and capacity demonstrated by representatives of councils at this morning's meeting. They are very wise people doing good things for their local communities, coupled with a willingness to work together. In my discussions with the mayors of Leichhardt, Marrickville, Ashfield, Canada Bay, Burwood and Auburn we agreed on a program to pursue an agenda that will see concrete options developed for implementation over the next eight months. A group comprising mayors, local members, and representatives from the Heritage Office, the Roads and Traffic Authority and transport agencies, will oversee the work. It will be chaired by my director-general, Jennifer Westacott.
The Parramatta Road Group will prepare specific plans for the four precincts along the corridor encompassing commercial and residential redevelopment opportunities sympathetic with the local character. This would include design guidelines for the scale, form and appearance of buildings and specific projects such as a site to demonstrate design, housing, employment, streetscape and road space concepts. I also want the group to spend some time thinking through the important question of funding and financing. Initiatives will be applied to the road to pick up some of the economic worth as we go through a process of revitalisation. These opportunities will allow local communities and local government to take charge of, and embrace, this concept in a constructive way.
The work will be divided into four sections: Camperdown to Petersham, involving Leichhardt and Marrickville councils; Petersham to Croydon, involving principally the Ashfield local government area; Croydon to Strathfield involving Burwood and Canada Bay councils; and Strathfield to Auburn and Parramatta, picking up Strathfield, Auburn and Parramatta councils. It is a great challenge for the local councils to work together. It is even a greater challenge for two levels of government to work together vertically and across the local government boundaries. The spirit of goodwill demonstrated this morning was terrific. There was a great willingness to get on with it. As a demonstration of the Government's commitment to this project I have made available $2 million to start the ball rolling to be spent once a plan has been developed in the next few months. The $2 million is not money for more studies: it is money to deliver change.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! There is too much audible conversation in the Chamber.
Mr CRAIG KNOWLES: Interjections by those opposite demonstrate why they were obliterated in these regions. They have absolutely no interest in the revitalisation of our city, and certainly no interest in the citizens who live in those areas, and who want something done for their area. Parramatta Road can be revitalised because there is goodwill to do it. Should the M4 East proposal proceed, it must make a contribution to the revitalisation of the inner west. If, for example, the M4 East reduces traffic by up to 30 per cent then, clearly, that provides an opportunity to rethink the present and future roles of that roadway. If we can get this very complex equation involving half a dozen local councils and various government agencies topped up with some serious money, then we can move on to other places in our city, such as Canterbury Road, the old Hume Highway, and links between the southern parts of the central business district through to the airport. These are all good things that will refresh and reinvigorate our city.
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