Quality of life in Parramatta

Parramatta’s ample green spaces are only a short walk from the CBD which are perfect for getting outside in your lunchbreak for outdoor exercise. According to the Vibrant, Sustainable, Global, Parramatta 2035 report produced by Western Sydney University in 2022, Parramatta has a proportionally higher level of Urban Vegetation Cover (UVC) compared to Sydney City (37% compared to only 21%). 

Riverside Theatres is Western Sydney’s pre-eminent arts and culture precinct. Having hosted and supported the performance arts space for over 30 years, the theatre is brimming with history, culture, and atmosphere.  

The City of Parramatta secured $40 million from the NSW Government WestInvest grant program to go towards the transformation of Riverside Theatres. Council is investing more than $100 million in the project, which includes a new 1350-seat lyric theatre, a newly refurbished 760-seat playhouse, a new 430-seat drama theatre, and a state-of-the-art digital studio and cinema – more than doubling the centre’s capacity. 

The City’s engaging calendar of events, festivals and activations means there are always new experiences to discover. Parramatta Lanes, the City of Parramatta Council’s award-winning annual eats, beats, and art festival, offers workers after-work adventures all around the city’s laneways, restaurants & bars, and public spaces.

Our event program reflects our multi-cultural community, from Warami, a festival celebrating First Nations people, to Diwali/Deepavali, the Festival of Light, as well as Lunar New Year, Pride, and so much more.  

Parramatta’s dining scene is vibrant, diverse, and delicious. With so many cafés, restaurants, and bars to choose from, there’s something to suit every occasion. Amongst capital cities in Greater Sydney, Parramatta had the second largest night-time economy by turnover in the 2020/21 financial year – valued at $1.16 billion. It’s the third largest night-time economy by turnover amongst capital cities in NSW, behind Sydney & Newcastle. 

PHIVE at 5 Parramatta Square is officially open. The bold new community, cultural and civic hub — with its vibrant red and orange tessellated roof — provides world-class facilities for those who live, work, study or play in Parramatta.  

The $136 million architectural icon spreads across six levels and accommodates a range of flexible event and meeting spaces; all available for community and business use. PHIVE is home to a state-of-the-art library, maker spaces, tech labs and sound studios where anyone can learn, innovate, and create. 

CommBank Stadium injects millions back into Parramatta’s economy, with major events driving visitation to the city. The stadium is designed to seat 30,000 and hosts a range of community events, activities, business meetings and shows. 

As the first NSW State Cultural Institution to be based in Western Sydney, the Powerhouse Parramatta Museum will deliver dynamic exclusive international exhibitions, education and community programs that will attract over 2 million visitors in its first year. 

The Parramatta Aquatic and Leisure Centre (PAC) is now open! Located in Parramatta Park, a short walk from the CBD, this state-of-the-art health and wellness centre features a 50m heated outdoor pool, 25m heated indoor pool, fitness centre with modern gym and program rooms, and spa and sauna facilities.

Civic Link Parramatta will be a green public and cultural space, a pedestrian and cycle-friendly avenue, connecting the Parramatta CBD to the Parramatta River. It’s a bold, important, and community-shaping project that the City of Parramatta Council has a long-term aspiration to create. It will extend across four city blocks connecting Parramatta Square to the river foreshore and the Powerhouse Precinct, home of the new Powerhouse Parramatta Museum, providing a network of public spaces for city life that will accommodate the scale and pace of change in the city.