Don’t leave Parramatta behind: Lord Mayor calls for more support

City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Donna Davis has doubled down on calls for the NSW Government to extend its $50 million ‘Thank God It’s Friday’ scheme to Parramatta, as local businesses continue to be impacted by the pandemic.

Cr Davis said the NSW Government was neglecting the thousands of struggling businesses in the heart of Greater Sydney by limiting its support and funding to the Sydney CBD.

“The NSW Government must recognise that the challenges presented by the pandemic are not only affecting businesses in the Sydney CBD,” Cr Davis said.

“As one of the Local Government Areas placed under strict lockdown last year, Parramatta has been hit particularly hard. Not only have our businesses had to deal with the impacts of COVID restrictions over the past two years, but many have also been impacted by Parramatta Light Rail construction, and now the Omicron wave.

“Our City has taken knock after knock since the pandemic began and all we are asking for is to receive the same support as the Sydney CBD to help our businesses and community bounce back.

“As the centre of global Sydney and one of the state’s fastest growing regions, Parramatta is a driving force in the NSW economy, so it is crucial that we are not overlooked when it comes to recovery plans and funding.

“Not only is Parramatta home to Western Sydney’s premier dining precinct, Eat Street, but across our City we have a wide assortment of restaurants, bars, cafes, shops, and entertainment venues, such as Riverside Theatres, that are itching to welcome locals and visitors back through their doors.

“I call on the NSW Premier and Treasurer to expand their ‘Thank God It’s Friday’ voucher program to the Parramatta CBD, so that our City can get back on its feet as quickly as possible.”