By the year 2030, the city of Sydney has a vision to be more sustainable, vibrant and successful.
It wants to revitalise the city centre around the harbour, provide better transport options for people getting into and around the city, have more green spaces and community "hubs''.
And on top of all that, it hopes to transform development and sustainable renewal through initiatives to make the city energy and water efficient, with affordable housing.
By the year 2025, current Parramatta residents, plus those in another 21,000 dwellings should be living in the "primary regional city of Sydney providing a focus for innovative business environments, jobs and lifestyle and work opportunities, attracting shopping, health,
education, business and cultural facilities,'' according to the council's Twenty25 vision for the future.
The council said that sustainable principles will underpin all future endeavours, including protecting the bushland, plants and animals and keeping the waterways clean.
The council will plan for the concentrated growth of housing around transport and activity nodes rather than dispersed growth throughout the area, as well as encouraging business to locate and prosper in the neighbourhoods.
Parramatta Lord Mayor, Cr Paul Barber said the city recognised the need to forge its own destiny and celebrate and strengthen its identity as a dynamic and creative city, distinguishing itself from other parts of Sydney, yet integrating with it.
"Council has identified five processes to assist in the delivery of the strategy...These are leadership, partnerships, participation, knowledge and planning,'' he said.
"Major areas of work as a result of this strategy include investing in the arts and heritage, attracting businesses to locate in Parramatta, working with businesses to enhance their environmental sustainability, enhancement of our waterways and bushland areas as well
as encouraging public transport and reduction on private car usage.
"Council also has a program of neighbourhood regeneration to build strong communities with attractive places.''
Jack Barton from the City Futures Research Centre said most growth in the suburbs was focused on the metro strategy and public transport-oriented development.
He said he was still surprised at the amount of development happening in the west and south-western suburbs.
"Working with the whole of government approach is essential,'' Dr Barton said.
"It is important to integrate community knowledge within local government in order to work effectively with the state government to plan and implement things like important infrastructure.''
While the city of Sydney would continue to be a place where many offices are based, Dr Barton said decentralisation would still occur into the suburbs, and local councils should be thinking about future visions for their areas too.
"I think it's certainly something that local governments should be taking the reins on and presenting visions with community input,'' he said.
"There's a diversity of considerations necessary for creating a rich environment and culture.''
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