Fast-forward 200 years and the need for connections along this river still exist.
Riverside factories established from early last century no longer belch noxious pollutants into the river and many of these sites have been transformed into high-density communities that appreciate the opportunity to live close to the water and its extensive walking trails. These new pioneers are arriving in their tens of thousands attracted also by the promise of high-quality public transport in the form of a new light rail service.
It is now more than seven years since then-premier Mike Baird promised stage two of the Parramatta Light Rail between Parramatta and Olympic Park. The state government had already committed to Stage 1 between Parramatta and Carlingford,a project due for completion next year. It is often forgotten that the original vision involved potential branches to Castle Hill,Bankstown,Strathfield and Macquarie Park.
Such dreams now look further away than ever. In fact,tens of thousands of residents have been stung by fresh revelations in theHeraldthat the government is set to indefinitely delay Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2,citing rising costs and labour shortages.
Loading
These are people who bought into the Victoria Road corridor and Olympic peninsula on the promise of public transport. There was also a justified faith in the government’s reputation for project delivery,given early success stories such as WestConnex and North West Metro.
Two decades after the greatest ever Olympics,the peninsula should be realising its potential. Massive urban renewal is planned to pour new life into Camellia. It is already occurring with 10,000 new residents in Melrose Park. In Ermington,riverside revitalisation is underway as old public housing units gradually give way to large complexes and townhouses. But it is the apartment dwellers of jam-packed Wentworth Point that are the true “forgotten Australians”. There is only one road in – and one road out.
The story of Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 has many twists and turns.