Parramatta North Rezoning

You can make your submission here until 24th of Feb.

Submission Tips

🏙️ Emphasise Affordability/Supply as a priority - affordability is barely mentioned in the strategic report
🚉 The site is surrounded by billions in new transport infrastructure - there are two new light rail stations in the precinct itself which are currently surrounded by nothing. Westmead Metro will be a short distance away when complete.
🏚️ The heritage in the area is barely visited because there’s no people nearby - had you even heard of the Parramatta Female Factory? Have you ever been? Would you be more likely to visit if it were in a precinct with other amenities?
👁️ Question the relevance of “Visual Impact” - the idea of “sightlines” between buildings is considered more important than housing for people, and when questioned heritage academics can’t even explain why they’re important.

Go to the planning portal to make your submission by 24th of Feb.

About this Proposal

In partnership with the Deerubbin Local Aboriginal Land Council, the state government is leading a massive rezone of a portion of North Parramatta for 2500 homes. The moment it was announced, it was subject to attacks from heritage zealots. Last time this happened, the proposal went nowhere. There is a real risk we could have a repeat of 2015 if a large enough portion of submissions are NIMBY.

Parramatta NIMBY Lore

Resistance to redevelopment of this particular area dates back to 2015 and unfortunately an earlier plan was scaled back in response to that. Over the last 10 years, the site has continued to deteriorate - nobody visits or even knows it exists. Meanwhile, Parramatta has experienced some of the highest net outward domestic migration of 20-30 year olds.

Whilst all UNESCO really wanted was a buffer zone (which they have), and despite the blessings of the Minister for Heritage, the State MP (an advocate of the Female Factory) and Heritage NSW, people are now saying we need to ‘press pause’ on the rezoning until 2029. That’s 4 years until the planning could start, maybe 7 or 8 until we get keys in doors. That’s if there’s no resistance in 4 years, which there will be - there’s always another excuse to delay.

This Time is Different

During the community consultation on the 22nd, there were more questions on affordability or asking why building heights and overall supply had been reduced, as opposed to questions specifically about heritage. Given the history of this project, this came as a surprise to those running the session. Their surprise speaks to how underrepresented concerns on affordability are in this whole process, but that also highlights the impact we can have in emphasising this in our own submissions!

Your Submission

Show the planners they have a social license to prioritise affordability and supply, over things like “Visual Impact”, “Heritage Views” and “Neighbourhood Characteristics”. Make it clear the worse thing they can do is “Press Pause” again, the second worse thing is scale it back, the best thing they can do is proceed with adjustments to unlock as much housing supply as possible.

Submissions close on 24th of February, and you can submit yours on the planning portal.