Westmead is a critical economic anchor, Parramatta’s economy is driven by the Westmead Health Precinct in the west. Internationally recognised research and health expertise is coalescing at Westmead. Investment momentum needs to be sustained by approving and accelerating the Westmead Place Strategy.

Actions to support Recommendation 4:

• 4.1 The NSW Government should draw a line on contested and unresolved deliberations on Camellia. A clear and immediately actionable plan is needed. This plan should place liveability and preserving the economic corridor of the region at its core and be consistent with the wider interests of Greater Parramatta.
• 4.2 The Greater Parramatta region should be identified as the site from which to support the establishment and development of advanced manufacturing and residential housing industries. The region has the capacity to become a global leader in housing technologies that offer affordable and flexible housing solutions to:
  • sustainability challenges e.g. develop affordable, transportable, short-term emergency housing ‘pods’ that can be easily constructed and delivered into a region after a natural disaster like bushfire or flood; and
  • adapting to change over the life course of a building/house and the people who live in and make these buildings homes.
    
• 4.3 The University of Sydney’s viral vector announcement for Ultimo, and biomedical push at Camperdown, should be balanced by reciprocal commitments to the Westmead Precinct.

The precinct must be preserved for industrial land rather than redeveloped for residential development. The PIC Pilot unequivocally identifies that the Draft Place Strategy for residential redevelopment of Camellia-Rosehill is high-cost yet provides little benefit. The precinct is constrained by poor road access, contamination, a wastewater pumping station requiring relocation and no existing school sites. The costs and constraints of this site is too high to be cost-effectively funded or recovered from developer contributions. It is a concern that the NSW Government continues to frame this precinct development as a question of either higher order urban services, or a mixed-use precinct. The PIC Pilot made a compelling case as to why it should be only developed around higher order urban services.

Actions to support Recommendation 5:

• 5.1 Review the Draft Place Strategy for Camellia-Rosehill, with priority placed on preserving industrial land in the Camellia-Rosehill Precinct.
• 5.2 The NSW Government needs to incentivise and fund deep and integrated co-location between universities and industry to globally elevate and diversify Parramatta’s innovation ecosystem.
• 5.3 Progressive and sustainable planning frameworks are needed to drive the urban transformation of the region, e.g. Westmead’s Hawkesbury Road – Park Avenue corridor.
• 5.4 The NSW Government must re-commit to the regeneration of the Cumberland East site, and progress the development of a ‘health science park’ at the Toongabbie Creek-Briens Road enterprise zone.

In order to unlock Greater Parramatta’s potential to be home to world-class sports and entertainment facilities, existing sites that are underperforming need to be activated and greater competition encouraged. Rosehill Racecourse languishes as a feeble attempt to make the city liveable, is stranded on James Ruse Drive, with no relationship to the city, and represents a lack of planning and vision. The Australian Turf Club (ATC) must significantly increase its corporate responsibility over this site and engage purposefully with the city.

Actions to support Recommendation 6:

• 6.1 Revitalise Rosehill Racecourse, encourage ATC to assume corporate responsibility over this site.
• 6.2 Prioritise and accelerate the development of the ‘Civic Link’ from Parramatta Square to the Powerhouse Museum and acquire, restore and ‘arts’ activate the Roxy Theatre.
• 6.3 Redress decadal inaction and urban decay at Sydney Olympic Park – look to East London (Stratford) as an example of a dynamic economic, cultural and connected Olympics-legacy site.

Fast-rail infrastructure will be critical to accelerating the prosperity, liveability, and connection between the six cities. Parramatta is a high net-benefit site to locate a fast-rail terminus relative to other regions in Sydney. High-speed rail infrastructures are costly and high-stakes urban projects. Getting the terminus location right is key to ensuring that fast-rail can operate at top speeds, maximise localised wider economic benefits, and make sure that time-saving benefits accrue. Parramatta, as a terminus site, has the potential to reproduce or even exceed the profound impacts of fast-rail infrastructure developments seen in the United Kingdom. Parramatta could become the ‘St Pancras of the Southern Hemisphere’. 

Actions to support Recommendation 7:

• 7.1 Plan and develop a fast-rail strategy for Greater Parramatta.
• 7.2 Identify and develop Parramatta as a Terminus/Port for Fast-Rail that connects Newcastle and Wollongong.
• 7.3 Identify how Aerotropolis will connect with Parramatta.

There are significant gaps in cultural infrastructure that need to be addressed for current and future populations in Parramatta. This lack of sufficient and appropriate cultural infrastructures is resulting in a significant loss of economic opportunity to the region. There is approximately $86 million in income foregone each year, this foregone income will increase each year as the population grows. There are not enough cultural infrastructures (i.e. theatres/cultural spaces) and the infrastructures that exist do not cater to the current and future demands. For example, Parramatta is attracting a younger more affluent population who are more likely to speak a language other than English at home. There is a need for cultural offerings and digitally blended spaces such as spaces where digital content can be produced. 

Actions to support Recommendation 8:

• 8.1 Fund the planning and development of cultural infrastructures including a visual arts gallery, cultural production hubs, rehearsal spaces, performance spaces, digitally blended spaces and incubator spaces.
• 8.2 Fund community-based initiatives and programs to increase engagement with Cultural Infrastructures and support start-ups and entrepreneurs through access to appropriate spaces.
• 8.3 Federal government to provide increased allocations to universities to provide regionally-based and accessible training in the creative industries for Western Sydney.
• 8.4 Accelerate the development of, at scale, performance and conference facilities, particularly in underutilised spaces like Rosehill and comparable areas close to the Parramatta CBD and Westmead Precinct.