Me. Soz.
Carparks planned for World Heritage-listed Parramatta Park
A large swath of World Heritage-listed Parramatta Park will be wiped out for 130-space carparks, eliminating more green space in the development-choked suburb.
Carparks for 130 vehicles will wipe out scores of trees when they are constructed at Parramatta Park, prompting an outcry from those who treasure the UNESCO-listed oasis.
As part of the People’s Loop project, cars will be removed from the centre of the park to allow more walkers and cyclists to exercise with minimal traffic.
But some critics are upset the project has come at a cost for 2980sq m of green space at the southwest corner of the park, near the Westmead entrance where the 86-space carpark will operate off Park Ave, in the West Domain.
Another 44 new parking bays will be added at Park Ave, between the Queens Road Gatehouse and Coleman Oval.
Helen and Fred Pentecost, who own a unit at Park Ave, are “shocked’’ about Greater Sydney Parklands’ plans to wipe out 60 trees.
“I’m also horrified that they use all these wonderful words like the ‘green heart of western Sydney’ but they’re happy to take a huge part of the park out,’’ Mrs Pentecost said.
“It’s a unique space. They’ve got to be crazy.
“It’s a place that’s close to transport, close to Parramatta but it has a beautiful outlook over the park and recreation — it’s a win win.’’
Mrs Pentecost said there was already plenty of parking available.
“Even in school holidays and on weekends there is plenty of parking available in the currently allocated spaces, particularly as commuters don’t occupy the spaces adjacent to the railway line on Railway Pde on weekends,’’ she said.
The site has been fenced off and Mrs Pentecost said Greater Sydney Parklands had failed to contact them about the size of the “parking hubs’’ planned throughout the 164-year-old park.
“We cannot fathom why a custodian of a government-dedicated park would reduce green space,’’ she said.
“If a carpark is necessary it should be built adjacent to (the park) or underground, under the
park with grass and landscaping above it so as to maintain the maximum area of green space for now and into the future.
“There has been no transparency about plans for this carpark, no opportunity for review of plans and no actual consultation with neighbours about this specific plan.’’
She called for the carpark to be built outside the park.
But Greater Sydney Parklands defended the plans.
“This is about giving the park back to pedestrians and cyclists – The Peoples’ Loop — while still ensuring adequate parking for park visitors,’’ she said.
“The effect will be to retain the same number of carparking spaces overall but give the majority of the park and its central loop road back to pedestrians, skateboarders, parents with young children and cyclists. This was trialled during the COVID-19 lock down and was overwhelmingly supported by the community.’’
“If a carpark is necessary it should be built adjacent to (the park) or underground, under the
park with grass and landscaping above it so as to maintain the maximum area of green space for now and into the future.
“There has been no transparency about plans for this carpark, no opportunity for review of plans and no actual consultation with neighbours about this specific plan.’’
She called for the carpark to be built outside the park.
But Greater Sydney Parklands defended the plans.
“This is about giving the park back to pedestrians and cyclists – The Peoples’ Loop — while still ensuring adequate parking for park visitors,’’ she said.
“The effect will be to retain the same number of carparking spaces overall but give the majority of the park and its central loop road back to pedestrians, skateboarders, parents with young children and cyclists. This was trialled during the COVID-19 lock down and was overwhelmingly supported by the community.’’
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/n...k/news-story/43bfe2dedc6e8fb6a3926cb2e31bf409
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