The Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) NSW is the peak body representing the interests of the urban development industry in New South Wales. We represent over 500 member companies that are directly involved in the industry including developers, strata and community managers, planners and lawyers.
UDIA NSW advocates for liveable, affordable, and connected cities, with that in mind we consider there is further work needed to properly assess the option of a station at Camellia.
Camellia was one of the five station options between Olympic Park and the Parramatta CBD considered in 2018. Subsequently the options narrowed between Camellia and Rydalmere. The EIS has now ruled out both Camellia and Rydalmere.
Camellia retains the possibility of achieving significant urban renewal, aligning with strategic planning objectives and other transport infrastructure investment. It is difficult to understand why Camellia has been discounted from consideration as a Metro Station location. UDIA believes the significant future city potential generated through an expanded Parramatta CBD would be the optimal pathway forward. As remnant industrial land located on a peninsula, it is also a site which would have the limited community opposition to large scale urban renewal construction works.
UDIA NSW requests that Sydney Metro prepares an option for a Station at Camellia in light of the evidence, which appears to have been inappropriately discounted throughout the consideration of the precinct. As a precinct, that has the potential to form a part of Parramatta’s extended CBD and the place making opportunity to enhance the access to the Parramatta River, it deserves much greater attention.