The Riverbank Car Park is preparing to close indefinitely, to make way for the Powerhouse Parramatta project, Parra News can reveal.
The car park, which is earmarked for demolition as part of the Powerhouse development plans, will close from February 1, despite the Powerhouse project having yet received official planning consent.
This means no demolition works are able to take place on the car park until that consent is received.
Car park users were recently notified of the closure via email communications.
The closure marks the next step in realising plans to build the museum on the Parramatta River foreshore, despite significant community pushback.
An Infrastructure NSW spokesperson confirmed the car park will close, to enable the construction of the Powerhouse Parramatta.
“Infrastructure NSW is working with the City of Parramatta to manage the car park closure including communications with car park users and the community,” the
spokesperson said.
“Although the car park will be closed, work on site will not start until a planning consent is received.”
A City of Parramatta Council spokesperson told Parra News that they don’t predict the closure of the Riverbank Car Park will be of impact to drivers, or be of financial impact to the council.
“Based on our analysis, City of Parramatta Council has sufficient vacancy across its CBD parking facilities to accommodate the parking needs of customers who would use Riverbank Car Park,” the spokesperson said.
“Usage of these alternate car parks will determine any financial impacts to council.”
The Riverbank Car Park is a 506 space, 24-hour multi-storey carpark off Dirrabarri Lane, Parramatta.
Regular users are encouraged to now use another of the city’s four secure car parks, which include Eat Street, City Centre, Parramatta Train Station and the Justice Precinct.
Planning approval for the project is expected to be handed down by the Department of Planning early this year, however there have been reports of delays.
Those in opposition of the plans remain firm in their quest to save and preserve the historic 19th century home and former maternity hospital, Willow Grove, which is also earmarked for demolition.
Troy Dodds is Parra News' Managing Editor and Breaking News Reporter. He has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working with some of Australia’s leading media organisations. In 2023, he was named Editor of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.