16 January 2013
The Urban Taskforce applauds the NSW Governments progress in appointing teams of advisers and consultants for the WestConnex project but is concerned that urban renewal of the Parramatta Road corridor also needs to be a focus.
Appointing technical experts on motorway design and economic modelling on the business case for the motorway demonstrates a strong commitment by the government to get the WestConnex project underway, says Urban Taskforce CEO, Chris Johnson. There also needs to be a focus on the business case for the urban renewal of the areas alongside the motorway.
The initial proposal by Infrastructure NSW illustrated a 10 lane motorway replacing Parramatta Road and the noise and air pollution from such a major infrastructure project will make it very difficult to generate urban renewal particularly incorporating residential development nearby.
The Urban Taskforce is very supportive of the concept of WestConnex to help sort out Sydneys traffic problems but we believe there must be a win-win situation where urban renewal wins as well as traffic management.
The State Infrastructure Strategy recommended that ˜urban renewal – in particular, the transformation of Parramatta Road should be placed at the heart of the WestConnex scheme from the beginning. This laudable aim needs to continue as a key focus and the Sydney Motorways Project Office may need to be complemented by a Parramatta Road Urban Renewal Project Office, possibly as part of UrbanGrowth NSW.
