Sydney's Growth Will Need Development At Railways: Urban Taskforce

Wentworthville Town Centre could demonstrate how urban revitalisation should be across Metropolitan Sydney, says the Urban Taskforce.

Urban Taskforce CEO Chris Johnson said, "Wentworthville centre needs a big dose of revitalisation to boost its economic viability.""It is centres like this situated around a railway station that must pull their weight with a good amount of housing, jobs and retail development.""Sydney will need to double the number of existing dwellings over the next 40 to 50 years and we can't continue to spread the city. The best way to accommodate much of the future population is in apartment towers around railway stations and we must do this in a bold matter," he said.

"The NSW Government's 'Plan for Growing Sydney' focusses development along railway lines so that public transport is supported. The Urban Taskforce believes that a metro system will be needed on many of the current rail lines as densities increase along those lines. Residents and workers at key stations, like Wentworthville, will get improved rapid transport connections as well as improved amenity in their town centres. A new cosmopolitan atmosphere will evolve with more shops, more people, more jobs, cinemas, gymnasiums and community facilities.""The NSW Government's Metropolitan Strategy has a strong focus on making Parramatta as the second CBD for Sydney. They see a network of feeder light rail routes and heavy rail connections that create a new economic region. The areas near Westmead Health Precinct will be critical to reinforcing the focus on the Parramatta Region and this clearly includes Wentworthville," Mr Johnson said.

"Holroyd Council are a progressive council who see the benefit of new development in improving amenities for the whole community and their revitalisation plans for Wentworthville are just what is needed. I encourage the council and the community to not miss the opportunity to demonstrate a 'best practice' approach to urban renewal by ensuring that sufficient critical mass is included in the revitalisation to maximise community benefits.""Clearly it will be bigger sites in a centre like Wentworthville that will to take the lead in revitalising the precinct. Council needs to work with the large land owners to ensure that economic feasibility can be achieved along with community gain. We all need to support bold visions for urban renewal at railway stations like that proposed at Wentworth," he said.