Parramatta businesses to have their say on light rail

Businesses from Parramatta’s ‘Eat Street’ dining precinct, international and local hotels, and small business owners are among those who met on Tuesday night to provide advice to a new Parramatta Light Rail business advisory committee.

Parramatta Light Rail program director Tim Poole said the Parramatta Light Rail Business Reference Group will give the local business community and key stakeholder representatives a strong voice in the 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,” said Mr Poole.

“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.”

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.

The Business Reference Group will provide advice for the following precincts:

• Eat Street (Church Street between Palmer Street and Macquarie Street) and Parramatta CBD;
• Surrounding commercial businesses along the Stage 1 alignment at Westmead, North Parramatta, Camellia, Rydalmere, Dundas, Telopea and Carlingford.

Once in operation, Parramatta Light Rail is expected to provide a huge boost to local businesses, with light rail stops at Parramatta Square and Eat Street and nearly 30,000 people predicted to use the service every day by 2026.

Parramatta Light Rail will begin associated road, traffic and remediation works later this year, and is expected to begin services in 2023.

Details of Business Reference Group members can be found here.