Success! 20-year plan for Macquarie Park approved
A 20-year masterplan to oversee the transformation of Macquarie Park into a world-leading innovation district has been approved by the New South Wales Government.
The Macquarie Park Place Strategy will help our area reach its full potential as a place of innovation, collaboration and employment, with plans for 20,000 extra jobs here by 2036.
The approval follows deep collaboration between the Department of Planning and Environment and the City of Ryde, Greater Cities Commission, Transport for NSW and other state agencies.
Responding to feedback that employment forecasts weren’t ambitious enough – including a detailed and coordinated submission by Connect MPID members – the Department reviewed their forecasts, and committed to 20,000 jobs in addition to the employment capacity capable under existing planning controls.
Department of Planning and Environment’s Alison McLaren said the plan would also help Macquarie Park sustain an 18-hour economy, with more activity outside business hours:
“The Metro, which has already transformed the way people move along the northwest corridor, will enable the staged delivery of seven new suburbs that can support up to 7,650 homes.”
City of Ryde CEO Wayne Rylands acknowledged the plan, and the economic importance of Macquarie Park both to Australia and the local area:
“Ryde has a reputation for education and innovation and we will continue to develop as a knowledge city.”
“We know that increasing our City’s commercial capacity, supported by appropriate infrastructure, will have positive benefits for ratepayers and our community in general.”
The plan was also amended to commit to:
Create infrastructure delivery plans to coordinate the staging of infrastructure alongside growth
Maintain commercial space targets, and Macquarie Park’s “commercial core”, above demand for housing
Provide additional open space
Increase tree canopy targets from 25% to 40% across what is already Sydney’s greenest CBD
Provide a further detailed transport study, prioritising public transport, walking and cycling
The masterplan comes after the Greater Cities Commission were charged with accelerating Macquarie Park as a key economic precinct – alongside Tech Central in the city, and Westmead in Parramatta.
Responding to the approved plan, Mark Ames, General Manager at Connect MPID, said:
“Macquarie Park is already an economic powerhouse and a place to thrive. This will help it transform into a world-leading innovation district.”
“Reviewing these plans our members were clear: Macquarie Park is a critical employment centre with capacity to do so much more. We’re ready to work with State and Local Government and other agencies to help makes these plans a success.”
A working group will be formed to take the masterplan forward, including neighbourhood plans which can include re-zoning and infrastructure delivery.
