nikkin2

Westmead is very quiet but close to everything, the school is FANTASTIC. No bullying, kids work hard, teachers are very accessible and academic standards are high. The transport is great. I never have to wait more than ten minutes for a train and I can walk to Parra in twenty minutes if the weather is nice. Because Westmead is in the middle it is easy to visit for family who live in opposite directions and easy for a couple who work in opposite directions. Sometimes I really wish people would pick up their rubbish more, but I think that is changing slowly. In daylight savings everyone is in the park and it is a great place to meet the community and relax. You can bring a beer and a BBQ and the kids just enjoy the open space and playground. And the space is big- you can really boot a ball around without annoying anyone. Some units look pretty old but are quite big inside and still affordable. I notice a few older couples moving in to be closer to minding grandkids from nearby areas and also the hospital too. I think the area will get better with a new aquatic centre and light rail stops.

This is a hidden gem- close to the transport but very quiet. Plenty of events in the park and lots of green space but so quick to get to the city and reasonable for most other places. Kids love the school but very full so book early for before/after care, etc. or you will miss out. It is nice when they see all their friends at the park. It is very safe here too as the community in general are pleasant. I also feel safe knowing the hospital is so close.

Parramatta is great. True there are no beaches but the lake is now swimmable and the park is beautiful. It is a great location for families who work in opposite directions or have family in opposite directions, as it is in the middle. This was the reason I moved here, my partner convinced me that the location was good, the transport was good and the park is ideal. I haven't regretted living here at all. There are a lot of Indians and Asians here that are generally good neighbors, quiet and safe. Aspirational migrant parents are keen to do well and have no time to make trouble with anyone, so the kids have well behaved friends, which is important. I like to learn about other cultures and look forward to Parramasala and Diwali each year now. I also LOVE the free concerts in the park and the public transport. I have never driven to the airport since I moved here, or to a concert. I walked to the hospital for all my pregnancy appointments so no need for parking. The cycle path along the river is very nice- you can pretty much go from Westmead to Gladesville along the river. Sometimes I do go into the city or inner west for markets (dotn be fooled online, the markets here are nothing special- some good stalls but not enough of them and more for workers than residents) and the odd bit of shopping I cant get here but it only takes half an hour to get anywhere from here. A couple of weeks away at the beach each year does me (and it is affordable to holiday with a Parra mortgage- for now). I really don't mind living in an apartment when there is so much to do and now I am addicted to the convenience even though I sometimes visit more trendy or expensive areas I wouldn't really want to give Parra up even if I could afford to move there. As long as the council keeps the heritage, and keeps planting trees and making it green.

I agree that the area closer to the park is better than directly opposite Westfields. It is really green with the tennis courts nearby, big ovals to run in or join a team and of course, Parramatta Park with the cafes, festivals, and wide green space so close. I love that there is always a quiet area in the park even though the population is growing all the time. Parramatta High is really good and so is Parramatta West Public, you can have kids here and they see their friends all the time at the park and around the place so living in a unit is quite enjoyable. Not much cleaning, more time to live, plus it is so handy to Westfields for the end of day specials (handy to pick up shopping for dinner or just take away if I'm lazy on the way home). In daylight savings we live outdoors and no mowing;-)When the southern precinct is developed it will be close to that as well, so another bonus. I agree with others that any city can be noisy with traffic at times, but you get used to it and the traffic really isn't anywhere near as bad as say King George's road or Parramatta Road. Most people take public transport or the arterial roads around Parra. The other thing I like is that it is not too far from family/work in each direction- north, south, east west are all commutable.