SUMMER 2019 5 Australia Day 6 Summer water spots 13 Wentworth Point Community Centre and Library grand opening 4 Celebrating summer in Parramatta News Lord Mayor’s message Welcome to our new Lord Mayor Cr Bob Dwyer and CEO Brett Newman, who began this September. Congratulations to Deputy Welcome to the latest paying for a ticket, The Lord Mayor Cr Michelle Garrard who was reappointed. edition of Parramatta Sebastian Foundation will Pulse. be asking for donations to raise funds for a local Summer is now in project to help women full swing, and it’s a and families escape busy time of year for domestic violence. Your City UPDATES events and festivals in New Year’s Eve Parramatta. I would Parramatta Square update like to wish everyone a Celebrate the New Year Merry Christmas and with Western Sydney’s Design work continues on 5 Parramatta Square, the City’s Happy New Year, and I largest New Year’s new civic, cultural and community building in the heart of the Eve event from 6pm in CBD. It is on target to open in April 2022, coinciding with the look forward to seeing Parramatta Park, on completion of the rest of the Parramatta Square precinct. In what 2020 holds for Tuesday 31 December. August this year, a Development Application was lodged to our wonderful City. The whole family will be progress the multipurpose building that will extend above entertained with rides, the historic Town Hall. Featuring an open, flexible layout I’d like to take this music, dancing, animal and tessellated facade, the civic building will showcase opportunity to welcome shows, workshops, and contemporary and innovative sustainable architecture. Brett Newman, the new more than 20 food stalls Chief Executive Officer to explore. Enjoy live of City of Parramatta performances by The Parramatta Light Rail update Council, who commenced Soul Movers, The Goods, George Street in the Parramatta CBD has become two-way as his role in September. and comedian Anthony part of the Parramatta Light Rail program, helping to improve As we approach the Salame. The evening will the flow of traffic through the City. George Street has been New Year, I have great conclude with a wonderful converted to two-way traffic between O’Connell Street and confidence in what we fireworks display at 9pm. the Harris/MacArthur Street intersection, moving motorists can build together for I am excited to see the efficiently through the heart of Parramatta and redistributing the community moving community come together traffic volumes across the local road network. forward. to ring in the New Year. The Parramatta Light Rail will connect Westmead to Carols in The Crescent Australia Day Carlingford via the Parramatta CBD and Camellia, and is expected to open in 2023. The Sydney trains T6 Carlingford Get into the Christmas Celebrate what it means Line will permanently close on Sunday 5 January 2020. For spirit this year with Carols to be Australian at our more information visit parramattalightrail.nsw.gov.au in The Crescent, hosted Australia Day event by popular Australian in Parramatta Park. singer and television star There will be non-stop New speed limits in CBD Guy Sebastian. There entertainment from 6am Council, in partnership with Transport for NSW, has introduced will be a two-hour stage to 9.15pm on Sunday 40km/h speed limits in the Parramatta CBD and some show with a great line-up 26 January. Highlights parts of North Parramatta, Westmead and Harris Park, to of performers including of the event include a improve safety for all road users. The 40km/h speed limit musicians, comedians, hot-air balloon display, will particularly benefit the elderly, children, pedestrians and Santa and more. The classic vehicles at cyclists. For more information visit cityofparramatta.nsw.gov. event kicks off from 4pm CARnivale, kids’ activities, au/safespeedlimits on Saturday 14 December live entertainment from at The Crescent in high profile performers, Parramatta Park. There delicious food, amusement Darcy Street has reopened will be plenty of food stalls rides, fireworks and more. Darcy Street reopened to both pedestrians and vehicles on 30 and rides for families to November 2019. Direct pedestrian access via an underground enjoy before the concert retail link from Parramatta Station to Parramatta Square and starts at 7pm. In lieu of Lord Mayor the public space will open shortly after. For a full list of access Councillor Bob Dwyer changes visit cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au or call 1300 617 058. 2 James Horan. credit: photo Cover Artist’s impression of the new aquatic and leisure centre New aquatic and leisure centre coming to Parramatta Council has revealed the concept design for the new aquatic A new social hub for the Parramatta community, the facility and leisure centre, following an announcement that the NSW will incorporate the latest sustainable architectural design. Government will co-fund the project. The new facility will Unique features include sensitive integration with the site’s offer the community a welcoming and inclusive space where parkland surrounds, a generous use of space and light, as they can learn to swim, train, compete and cool down. well as single-level accessible entry and pathways. Based in the Mays Hill precinct of Parramatta Park, the new With more than a million visitors expected to use the centre will feature indoor and outdoor pools, learn-to-swim facility each year, Council is progressing with additional facilities, café, fitness centre, parking facilities, and year- detailed design work with a view to lodging a Development round health and wellness services. Application in 2020. For more information visit cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au/poolupdate Construction on EAT STREET coming soon The construction plan for Parramatta Light Rail on Parramatta’s famous ‘Eat Street’ will see Church Street closed to car traffic from 1 February 2020, and major construction to begin from June. To support local businesses on Eat Street, Council will be waiving the outdoor dining fees for cafés, restaurants, bars and other outlets during the construction of the Parramatta Light Rail. From 1 February 2020, Church Street will become a pedestrian-only zone between Macquarie Street and Market Street as work on the crucial project gets underway. Artist’s impression Outdoor dining will continue until major construction of Eat Street begins in June 2020. Construction will be put on hold for pedestrianised the important summer trading period, and during this time Transport for NSW will provide some temporary outdoor tables and seating as part of activities and events between 1 November 2020 and 31 January 2021. For more information visit parramattalightrail.nsw.gov.au Cover photo credit: James Horan. James Horan. credit: photo Cover 3 Summer in the City Celebrating summer in Parramatta Carols in The Crescent With Guy Sebastian and friends 14 December, The Crescent Parramatta Park, 4pm-9pm, concert starts 7pm Left to right: Lord Mayor Cr Bob Dwyer, Erth Artistic Director Scott Wright, Ronda Gaffey and Lyn Watkins of Parramatta Enjoy an evening of carol singing costumed characters and an Female Factory Friends, and author and festive entertainment hosted by appearance by a special guest from Judith Dunn. award-winning recording artist and the North Pole. In addition to the star of ‘The Voice’, Guy Sebastian and onstage entertainment, there will be Foundation Festival his wife, Jules Sebastian. children’s amusement rides and food trucks. This fundraising event for The Foundation Festival took place from Sebastian Foundation will include For more information visit Thursday 31 October to Sunday 3 a two-hour stage show featuring discoverparramatta.com/ November. TV stars, a choir, band, comedians, carolsinthecrescent Celebrating and appreciating our rich cultural heritage, the event took place in 10 locations of great significance to Parramatta’s history. 31 December Parramatta Park Sydney Festival 4pm - 9pm This January, Parramatta will play host to major theatre and music events as part of Sydney Festival. For more information go to page 14. See the full program and get tickets at sydneyfestival.org.au Subscribe to Council’s e-newsletter Want to stay up-to-date with Council services, events and initiatives? Parramatta New Year’s Eve 2019 Subscribe to City of Parramatta Council’s monthly e-newsletter via Start the New Year off with a bang to grab a bite with more than 20 food the ‘Stay in touch’ section of Council’s at Parramatta’s NYE celebrations in stalls, offering a range of carnival website at cityofparramatta.nsw. Parramatta Park. See live performances favourite foods. It will be a great family gov.au by The Soul Movers, The Goods and event so come down and save yourself comedian Anthony Salame. The kids a spot for the fireworks. areas will be packed full of music, dance, science and animal shows. For more information visit 4 There are plenty of rides and options discoverparramatta.com/nye Coming Section Title soon... Australia Day DECEMBER 26 January, Parramatta Park Epping Aquatic Centre Christmas Pool Party 6am - 9.15pm 7 December, 12.30pm - 4.30pm Get together with your family and friends FREE ENTRY and head to Parramatta Park for non-stop Epping Aquatic Centre, Epping entertainment from dawn until dusk. Featuring cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au/eppingpoolparty a hot-air balloon display, classic vehicles at CARnivale, kids’ activities, live entertainment, Carlingford Epping Carols delicious food, amusement rides and more. Join in the Park us at the main stage at 6pm for a three hour 8 December,