Parramatta City Council continues to deliver quality services

Parramatta remains on track to be the future growth centre of Sydney, and Parramatta City Council (PCC) will continue to deliver quality community services to its ratepayers under new boundary changes proposed by the NSW Government.

If approved, the Government’s ‘Fit for the Future’ boundary proposals would see the Parramatta Local Government Area expanded slightly to encompass parts of the Hills, Hornsby, and Auburn council areas, and a small section of the Holroyd LGA.

Disappointingly, the Ward of Woodville is proposed to be lost to Parramatta’s LGA and merged with neighbouring councils. Woodville includes the town centre of Granville and parts of Guildford, Chester Hill and Merrylands and has been an integral region of the Parramatta LGA for more than 70 years.  The changes would see Woodville merged with Holroyd and Auburn to form a new council.

The proposed boundary changes fall short of Parramatta Council’s Fit for the Future submission which called for a greatly expanded LGA to provide a broader residential, commercial and industrial rate base.

It’s estimated the new boundaries will result in an increased population in the Parramatta LGA of about 30 thousand people.

While it is disappointed its submission was not fully adopted by the Baird Government, PCC has welcomed the proposed inclusion in its LGA of the Sydney Olympic Park precinct, Wentworth Point and the entire Epping Town Centre.

The new boundaries would result in the economic corridor between Parramatta and Sydney Olympic Park being managed under one council, which will help drive jobs growth in Western Sydney’s heartland and ensure planning controls and infrastructure are coordinated to deliver long-term economic growth.

In another benefit, the majority of the first stage of the Western Sydney Light Rail network would fall entirely within the new Parramatta LGA which will help streamline planning decisions around the proposed corridors.

The changes would also extend Parramatta’s existing northern limit to the M2 to form a more sensible boundary for the LGA and better connect the communities of North Rocks and Carlingford.

PCC will commence discussions with neighbouring Councils immediately about the proposed boundaries with the focus on ensuring that there is no disruption to services. It is expected the current rate structures will remain in place for the foreseeable future.

While extremely concerned at the loss of the Woodville Ward, Lord Mayor of Parramatta Cr Paul Garrard said: “All ratepayers in a redrawn LGA can be assured Council’s service delivery and facilities will operate normally.”

The boundary changes are subject to confirmation by the NSW Boundaries Commission which is expected to consider the proposals in the first half of 2016.