Parklands, jobs the winners as new retail centre rises

Published: 10 September 2018 at 12:00 am

A new, $100 million retail development will create jobs and investment in Western Sydney while helping secure the future of Australia’s biggest urban park.

The Eastern Creek Quarter – a new retail precinct at the junction of the M7 Motorway and the Great Western Highway – will create around 500 construction jobs and 1,000 permanent jobs

The Quarter will be home to supermarkets, specialty shops, and large format retail and ‘big-box’ stores, which might include businesses selling whitegoods, furniture or electrical products.

The land is owned by Western Sydney Parklands Trust and the revenue raised through leases will help secure its financial position as it expands its networks of parks, picnic grounds and recreation and leisure attractions.

Trust Executive Director, Suellen Fitzgerald, said the Western Sydney Parklands was becoming an important contributor to not only lifestyle and leisure opportunities, but also economic growth in Western Sydney.

“Western Sydney Parklands is expected to generate $2.2 billion in additional economic activity for Western Sydney by 2031, through its unique range of open spaces and recreation and tourism attractions,” Ms Fitzgerald said.

“The Eastern Creek Quarter opens will attract visitors to the region from right across Greater Sydney.

“It is the second Western Sydney Parklands business hub to break ground, with the Horsley Drive Business Park just a few kilometres down the road – Australia’s first light industrial, commercial development to achieve a 6‑star, ‘Green Star’ rating.

“The revenue from these business hubs and the others in development provides a sustainable financial base for the ongoing operation of the Parklands and the development of new parks, picnic areas, walking and cycling trails, and recreation and tourism opportunities. 

“It will also help the Trust add to the more-than 1,300 hectares of bushland it has restored and planted over the last decade – including large areas of vital and endangered Cumberland Plain Woodland.”

The Eastern Creek Quarter site covers 15 hectares and will be built in up to four stages over five years. It is composed of 50,000 square metres of floor space for supermarkets and specialty shops, as well as ‘big box’ outlets, retailing products such as whitegoods, furniture or electrical products. The first stage due for completion in October 2019.

At more than 5,200 hectares, Western Sydney Parklands is the biggest urban park in Australia and one of the biggest in the world; spanning 27 kilometres from north to south.