Parramatta 2010 'State of the City' Address
The Lord Mayor of Parramatta City Council, Cr Paul Garrard, recently delivered the 2010 'State of the City' address. Presented in partnership with the Parramatta Chamber of Commerce, this is Parramatta's premiere regional business event. This year saw the largest-ever audience of almost 300 attendees.
Serving his fifth Term as Lord Mayor, Cr Garrard analysed Parramatta's performance, challenges and achievements.
Parramatta was showcased as being the heart of the New South Wales metropolis and a gateway to nearly two million people in Australia's fastest growing region.
Parramatta was the largest regional economy with a Gross Regional product in 2007-2008 of 12.2 billion. Today, that figure is up nearly 9% to 14.2 billion which is 6% of the Sydney economy.
Cr Garrard told the audience that with 500,000 more residents and 34% more office workers living in Local Government Areas within a 15km radius of Parramatta's CBD compared to Sydney, Parramatta needed to be at the top page of the Government's agenda. However, Cr Garrard warned that the state government appears to have abandoned its vision of Sydney being a 'City of Cities' and building Parramatta as the second CBD.
Cr Garrard said that there was an under-provision of the transport infrastructure required to provide access for Parramatta's workers, residents and visitors. Already there are 5.8 million car trips are made into Parramatta each year, twice as many trips as trains and buses combined.
As Parramatta grows, public transport must play a greater role in combating commuter traffic congestion, reducing demand on parking infrastructure, and accommodating peak and off-peak retail and recreation visitation.
Cr Garrard called for a network of frequent routes that make use of Parramatta's existing interchange facilities, contrasting this to the current Metropolitan Transport Plan which is a hub and spoke model focussed on the media problem of overcrowding on major routes to Sydney. Cr Garrard said that "the proposed Western Express will do little to improve public transport to Parramatta with journey time savings of about one minute from Blacktown, three minutes from Penrith and five minutes to Sydney."
Highlighting Parramatta City Council's 'Destination Parramatta' campaign, Cr Garrard said that Parramatta needed targeted lobbying - with business - to hold the state government to account in ensuring that Parramatta's growth is supported as an employment destination. Cr Garrard committed to hosting a 'Transport Forum' in Parramatta to highlight the need for public transport improvements.
Cr Garrard also updated the audience on his mission to strengthen the City's economy and transform Parramatta's neighbourhoods by providing wireless internet access throughout the City, calling it "a bold initiative that will provide a connected environment for business, job creation and information sharing."
Already four of Parramatta's libraries have been transformed into wireless hubs.
Cr Garrard said his 'eParra' initiative was part of the need to set new standards for Parramatta: "In taking Parramatta down this path of being a 'Smart City' I'm seeking to have us partner with the Federal Government in its $43 billion national broadband network roll out."
With Parramatta's 'Smart City' approach and its way of being different, Cr Garrard assured the audience that Parramatta can 'outdo' its competition in attracting business and investment. Parramatta Council is absolutely resolute that its $1.6 billion Civic Place project will go ahead. Now that the hurdles of a High Court action and the Global Financial Crisis have been cleared, Cr Garrard announced that the Planning Approvals for stage one are set to be processed in 2010, with construction to start in 2011 and completion in 2013.
On an equally important front, Parramatta City Council has worked hard to present well to its visitors. "We have introduced a world class system titled 'Walk Parramatta' which consists of maps and signs to help people navigate the City and better discover our attractions and services," Cr Garrard told the audience.
Major events are a key part of bringing life to a city. They also attract media attention and reinforce positive messages.
In early 2010, Parramatta saw the superstar AR Rahman attract 50,000 people to Parramatta Park, who danced the night away as Parramatta came of age as an event lead city. Cr Garrard announced that Parramatta will continue to strengthen its partnership with Events NSW after attracting a new five-day festival called 'Parramasala' - a new national festival of South Asian Arts, including sports and business activities, in Parramatta.
Addressing the attendees as key members of 'Team Parramatta', Cr Garrard concluded that his Council - in partnership with 'Team Parramatta' - has demonstrated its creativity, its innovative approach, that it thinks fast and, more importantly, acts quickly. "Its readiness for business, its ability to take up the challenge, and its credentials to lead make Parramatta the best place to live, work, visit and invest."
GWP Magazine Issue #30, May-June 2010Articles and any content can not be copied and/or displayed in any other applications; printed/web-based etc without the written permission of GWP Magazines.
