IT’S been described as a “varicose vein”, “one of the least attractive commercial areas of Sydney” and a former Premier even likened it to “Beirut on a bad day”.

Yes, we’re talking about one of Sydney’s oldest and most congested urban corridors — Parramatta Rd.

Widely regarded as an eyesore with a mix of run down buildings and decaying infrastructure, a major plan is aiming to turn the traffic snarl into a “green, liveable corridor” with more than $31 billion pledged for the makeover.

Burwood, Concord, Five Dock, Lewisham, Leichhardt and Camperdown have all been named “priority areas” in the strategy, which sets targets of 50,000 new jobs, 27,000 homes and 66ha of open space by 2046.

With the release of the central district plan for public feedback, Greater Sydney District Commissioner Maria Atkinson has called on inner west residents to put forward their ideas and priorities for the transformation.

media_camera Concept images of before and after the makeover.

media_camera Concept images of before and after the makeover.

She encouraged residents to “think big.”

“Along the corridor you have some thriving areas and you have some areas that led to the three years investigation about what can be improved,” she said.

“Parramatta Rd will always be an important, strategic road but the district plan is saying — look broader, be bold and let’s think about land use in different forms.”

Ideas already mooted include rooftop sporting grounds, a push for night time businesses and 32km of new cycleways.

Camperdown will also be promoted as a hub for research and creative industries while $311 million has been pledged for health and education facilities.

media_camera Artist impression of urban renewal along Parramatta Rd at Camperdown.

UTS Business School dean Roy Green said there was potential to extend the creative hub — the largest in Australia — to other areas of Parramatta Rd.

He said the success would hinge on developers not being allowed to “run the show”, saying small and medium businesses should be encouraged rather than “high-rise apartments.”

Ms Atkinson said the latest plan gave priority to jobs, over residential development, with equal weighting given to social and environmental outcomes.

She said the plan focused on retaining “what’s urban, and gritty” about the road, vowing not to replace heritage with “nondescript, glass facade” buildings.

After 30 years of governments’ shelving upgrades to the corridor, the Greater Sydney Commission hopes this will be the plan to breathe new life into the thoroughfare.

To make a submission to the central district plan, email engagement@gsc.nsw.gov.au or write to PO Box 257, Parramatta, 2124. The GSC is also accepting Tweets and Facebook comments as feedback.

Work on development assessment and construction is slated to begin next year.

PUSH FOR TRANSPORT LINKS

A LIGHT rail link running the length of Parramatta Rd would reduce the three million cars that use the road each year.

That’s the message of State Balmain MP Jamie Parker who is leading a campaign for the government to extend the southeast light rail on George St to Parramatta Rd.

Mr Parker said the centre-running light rail would be alternative to the rapid bus transport included in the plan.

media_camera Artist's impression of a light rail — led urban renewal proposal.

“With our city growing and our roads clogged by traffic it is critical that we start investing in more light rail infrastructure,” he said.

An investigation by Inner West and Canada Bay Councils have also suggested guided electric vehicles would have similar costings to a rapid bus network.

Inner West Council administrator Richard Pearson said the guided electric vehicles would not require the construction of tracks.

What do you think? Let us know an editor@innerwestcourier.com.au