The Parramatta Light Rail business advisory committee has met with representatives from several small businesses from the area to collect feedback and advice on the development of the project.
According to Parramatta Light Rail program director, Tim Poole, the Parramatta Light Rail Business Reference Group will give the local business community and key stakeholder representatives a strong voice in the light rail project.
“When Stage 1 of the Parramatta Light Rail opens in 2023, it will be incredible for businesses along the alignment – but we need to get the planning right and we are asking for their help to do this,” Poole said.
“Members of our Business Reference Group will be invaluable in providing ideas and feedback to government on initiatives that will support businesses during the construction of the Stage 1 alignment.
“We are delighted there is such strong support for light rail and for local businesses while we deliver this major piece of public transport infrastructure.”
Expected to open in 2023, Stage 1 of the Parramatta light rail will run 12-kilometres between Westmead and Carlingford via Parramatta CBD and Camellia.
Recently, in an effort to quell some of the swelling community concerns about the potential disruptiveness of the planned Parramatta light rail project, the NSW Government gave a guarantee that construction will not commence until at least 2020.
Businesses on Parramatta’s premier shopping and eatery strip on Church Street have been looking upon the disruptions and delays that have beleaguered Sydney’s CBD and South East light rail project with concern, keen to avoid the situation currently facing their counterparts on George Street, where foot-traffic has diminished considerably.
The guarantee to not start construction until 2020 follows a period of community consultation, including surveys of local businesses and over 125 community information events.
Members of the Parramatta Light Rail Business Reference Group responded to a public Expression of Interest process, and include the Transport Coordination Division, City of Parramatta Council, Parramatta Chamber of Commerce and local businesses along the Stage 1 alignment including retail outlets.
Transport for NSW is reportedly investigating the possibility of a flexible construction schedule on Church Street that would work around the street’s busiest trading times, weekends, early evenings and holidays.