Parra News May 21 2024

LOCAL NEWS
Lack of “suburb pride” sees
Epping begging for a glow up
ELLIE BUSBY
Parramatta Council is set to investigate
scope of a new masterplan for Epping
Town Centre, after concerns were
raised its current state has created a lack of
“suburb pride”.
It’s been described as being in “a state of
significant disrepair” but Epping Town Centre
could finally be one step closer to renewal,
after a motion to begin high-level scope for
the preparation of a masterplan was passed at
the latest Council meeting.
Councillor Cameron Maclean, who moved
the motion, said a masterplan would present
a great opportunity to improve public amenities
and traffic in Epping.
“There’s always been discussion of the
development and the renewal of this precinct,
and it’s been continual as the day is long and
yet it hasn’t come to fruition,” he continued.
“There’s a lot of opportunity here and I think
we would do so well to begin the work to
establish a masterplan to properly realise it.”
Maclean acknowledged that work has been
done in the past in Epping but said more is still
needed.
“People love where they live but they are
dismayed that despite all the credentials…
the Epping Town Centre still looks as it does,”
he said.
The current state of Epping Town Centre has created a “lack of suburb pride,” according to
Parramatta Council.
“As you look across the railway line from the
western side of Epping it’s really quite Dickensian
in the sense that it’s, not so much the Tale
of Two Cities, but the tale of two sides of the
railway line.”
New planning controls were last introduced
to the Epping Town Centre by the NSW
Government back in 2014, which was also
when the last masterplan for Epping was
created.
Speaking against the motion, Councillor
Lorraine Wearne said what was really needed
to improve Epping is a review of the current
planning controls – not a masterplan.
“The issues of traffic… can only be resolved
by the State Government. This Council can
masterplan its little mind out, but frankly
that is not what’s going to solve the issues in
Epping,” she added.
“What we need, if anything, in Epping is a
review of the planning controls – not a masterplan
for the area. Without the involvement
of the State Government we can do nothing
about the traffic”
Councillor Kellie Darley supported the
motion but said she agreed the State Government
needs to be involved in improving
Epping.
“The State Government isn’t going to just
magically wake up one day and go ‘let’s fix up
Epping Town Centre’ – we actually need to
go to them as Council and push for this,” she
added.
“At the end of the day, residents want this,
I’m sure the businesses want this, we want
this, so it is about being able to advocate to the
State Government and pushing that forward.”
A report on the cost and timeframe for
preparation of the masterplan is set to be
presented to Council in August.
The report will also investigate the potential
future role of Council’s Rawson Street carpark
site, including whether it should be utilised
for provision of affordable housing, commercial
uses, community facilities or public car
parking.
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Tuesday, May 21, 2024 « parra news 7