Parramatta city council proposes expansion of CBD’s justice precinct

The Parramatta city council in NSW has proposed an expansion of the justice precinct in the city’s CBD.

The expansion will include a permanent Supreme Court circuit, a new law school, and a legal start-up hub “to encourage new ideas in the delivery of legal services,” the council said. The expansion is expected to generate over 2,200 legal jobs and $350m a year to bolster the economy.

“We are home to the second largest legal centre in NSW, but only have 5% of Greater Sydney’s legal jobs. By growing Parramatta’s justice precinct, we hope to see more barristers, solicitors, judges and judicial staff based in Parramatta, providing valuable legal services to the people of Western Sydney,” said Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Bob Dwyer.

He highlighted the importance of the expansion project by pointing out that the number of legal professionals residing near Parramatta is anticipated to skyrocket in the next decade or so.

“With the growth and transformation Parramatta is experiencing, it makes sense that our justice precinct grows with it,” he said. “As a rapidly growing economic powerhouse in the centre of global Sydney, Parramatta needs bold initiatives such as this one to help realise its full potential over the coming years.”

Dwyer said that the expansion would not only meet the needs of the city’s rising population, but would also “help support and retain local legal talent and encourage new and innovative ways to improve the justice system.”

The expansion idea was first brought to the council’s attention by former Lord Mayor Cr Andrew Wilson in 2018. The council proceeded to commission independent research from SGS Economics and Planning on the demand for legal services in Parramatta.

The expansion proposal was endorsed by the council last month.

“We look forward to working closely with the relevant state and federal government departments and industry experts to make this vision a reality,” Dwyer said.