Parramatta is home to the second-largest legal and justice precinct in Greater Sydney behind the Sydney CBD.
However, there is a large gap—only 6 per cent of NSW barristers are located in Parramatta, while there are just 1,000 legal jobs compared to 16,000 in the CBD.
There are a number of arguments for changing the status quo, though, making the case for bridging the gap a strong one.
“As Sydney’s Central City, Parramatta is ideally located to service more jobs and create greater economic outcomes for the area,” City of Parramatta lord mayor Bob Dwyer said.
Dwyer has proposed a coalition to advocate for the expansion of the legal and justice precinct.
One of the strongest arguments for the expansion relates back to something quite fundamental to our society and the rule of law: access to justice.
More than two million people call Western Sydney home. Over the next 20 years, that number is set to rise by another one million—relative to 700,000 in the east.
The equitable access to court and justice services for this growing population is crucial.
The Parramatta Justice Precinct, home to five courts, is ideally located in the midst of this growing population.
It is also just 500 metres from the railway station which offers frequent services to Sydney CBD. The Parramatta Light Rail route runs through the precinct and it is anticipated that stage 1 will be completed by 2023.
Also under construction is the Sydney Metro West, an underground metro line linking Greater Parramatta to Sydney CBD and communities in between.
As Sydney’s population continues to move west, government policy and action is recognising this shift by supporting Parramatta Justice Precinct’s expansion.
Parramatta is the heart of the Central River City. It is part of the NSW government’s “three cities vision” with the Greater Sydney Region Plan identifying Parramatta, along with Sydney CBD and the future Badgerys Creek Aerotropolis, as one of the primary locations for services and knowledge jobs in Greater Sydney.
The NSW government also continues to relocate key government offices to Parramatta. Sydney Water, the Greater Sydney Commission, Departments of Education and Planning, Industry and Environment, NSW Industrial Relations Commission, NSW Police Headquarters and most of the Department of Justice are already located in Parramatta.
Another recent addition to Parramatta is the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal. The new $2.3 million fit out will quadruple tribunal capacity in Parramatta from five to 20 hearing days a week.
By 2022, it is projected that the NSW government will occupy 250,000sq m of office space matching its Sydney CBD presence.
While Sydney CBD’s perceived prestige in comparison to Parramatta may have traditionally attracted the bulk of law and legal talent, things are changing. Parramatta’s reputation is growing, and will continue to grow with substantial investment in development and infrastructure.
The legal and business community—both at the big and small end of town—is already beginning to realise the opportunity Parramatta represents.
A number of small to medium-sized legal firms are establishing in Parramatta and three of the big four accounting firms have a Parramatta presence.
The research suggests the opportunities will continue to grow. High-level forecasting analysis, based on per-capita rates of the number of matters by the three main state court jurisdictions, shows an increased demand for court services coupled with a rising number of legal professionals practising in Western Sydney.
Between 700 and 1,400 new legal jobs within the Parramatta CBD is possible with investment by the NSW government to increase the service capacity of the Parramatta Justice Precinct—representing between $110 million and $225 million in value added to the local economy.
Coleman Greig chief executive Warrick McLean, Sydney’s largest commercial law firm outside the Sydney CBD, believes in area’s potential.
“I think our growth has aligned with Parramatta and the region,” McLean said.
We have seen the opportunity, and know from experience that if you give to the region, the region will give back to you.”
Download the brochure or full report to read more about why it makes sense to invest in Parramatta Legal and Justice Precinct—and move justice closer to the people.
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