When the sod was turned on Civic Link Block 3 on June 17, the City of Parramatta took a huge step towards becoming more connected.
The $21.1 million Civic Link will function as a boulevard that connects Parramatta’s CBD to the new Powerhouse Parramatta and Parramatta River.
“Civic Link will be the green spine of our global City and open new possibilities for people to explore Parramatta,” said Lord Mayor Martin Zaiter.
“We want our grand boulevard to be a place for our community to meet, connect, and relax amongst the native gardens and trees, while supporting future local businesses along the route.”
The project is a collaboration between the State and Federal government as well as the City of Parramatta.
“This is funded through the Federal Government’s housing program,” said Federal Member for Parramatta Andrew Charlton.
“This new Civic Link will enable more housing in Parramatta, and the reason we want more housing is because more housing means lower rents for Australians.”
Minister for Housing, Homelessness and Cities Clare O’Neil said Civic Link is key infrastructure to help make Parramatta more liveable.
“Housing is the defining challenge facing Australians right now – and we’re taking it on from every angle,” O’Neil said.
“Real progress is being made on housing supply – cutting red tape, speeding up approvals, and making it easier to build – that’s how we get more homes, faster.
“There’s more work to do, but this shows that when governments at all levels and industry work together, we can get homes built faster and at scale.”
State Parramatta MP Donna Davis added the corridor will also benefit local businesses.
“We will connect Parramatta Square to Parramatta Powerhouse and ensure that businesses along the way will have a great connection,” she said.
“It will energise our businesses; it will provide opportunities for people to explore Parramatta. That’s what we are all about: getting more people to visit Parramatta with the arrival of Western Sydney Airport.
“Parramatta is fast becoming a destination of choice, and we want to make sure that people have got great ways of getting around this city so that they can explore all that Parramatta has to offer.”
The Civic Link will also connect all forms of transport, including light rail, heavy rail, the upcoming metro, and bus services.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for Parramatta to continue to grow,” Davis said.
Civic Link Block 3 will feature a wide pedestrian boulevard to improve accessibility, new pavement and signage for improved accessibility, modern and varied seating options, smart lighting and CCTV, native trees, artwork, and rain gardens.
Ally Hall joined the team 2024, and focuses on entertainment and community stories. She is a graduate of the University of South Australia.