Peaceful perimeters

Parramatta's retail hub is undeniably the enormous Westfields precinct where high density outlets cater to high intensity shopping traffic. Day trippers, shop and run commuters and lunchtime customers are all catered for by the complex, now partnered with a transport interchange.

While this activity has, for some time, drawn shoppers away from the CBD the results have gradually become a plus for that precinct. Now that Spring is with us, with the long Summer to come, Parramatta's restaurant district has really come into its own.

More and more tables and chairs are appearing on footpaths as al fresco dining becomes the preference. But this is really only an attractive option because the density of pedestrians is thinned by the dedicated retail centre being at the other end of town.

What was once seen as a major threat to Parramatta's main street has now been adapted to create a dining and relaxing, social precinct that generates its own attractive ambience. The riverbank is nearby, the stadium a short walk and the banking and commercial sectors are adjacent. Some renaissance of the short retail strip leading to the Town Hall square is certainly in order; but, by and large, things are developing quite nicely.

Trevor Oldfield

President