Seeking feedback on planning proposal for St Marys Town Centre

Friday, 28 August 2015

Council wants to hear what you think about our proposal to reclassify some public land in St Marys Town Centre...

Penrith Council wants to hear your views on the proposal to reclassify some public land in St Marys Town Centre.

The proposal, on public exhibition until 21 September, recommends changing the classification of land near existing shopping centres from Community Land to Operational Land.

Mayor Ross Fowler OAM said this is required to allow Council to consider opportunities, including new development, that will grow the Town Centre and implement the adopted St Marys Town Centre Strategy.

"In 2006 we asked the community what they wanted in the future and the vision became the St Marys Town Centre Strategy," Cr Fowler said.  "In 2007 Council created the St Marys Town Centre Masterplan to show how this vision could be achieved.

"The next step for Council is to reclassify parts of the land so we can consider opportunities to use it to create attractive public spaces, bring new business and investment and generate jobs."

The proposal affects Kokoda and Lang Parks, Council land currently used for car parking (West Lane and Station Street car parks), a Council building (at 8-10 Carinya Avenue) and a laneway (at 100A Queen Street).

Some possible future actions include a new town square, residential apartments near the train station, a new street between Queen Street and Charles Hackett Drive and the integration of expanded shopping centres with the Town Centre.

The proposed reclassification does not address the sale, lease or development of the land - these matters may be considered by Council in the future and will include community consultation.  It also does not prevent the current use of the land from continuing.

"Reclassification of the land will not affect the car parking spaces currently available," Cr Fowler said.  "Any new developments in the future would be required to improve the existing car parking situation."

An independently chaired public hearing about the proposal will be held in October 2015. The date for the hearing will be finalised after 21 September.

Go to http://yoursaypenrith.com.au/StMarysTownCentre for more information.

Council is hosting a drop-in information session on Thursday 10 September 2015 at Council's St Marys Business Office, 207-209 Queen Street.  Please call in any time between 5:30-7:30pm, at the office at the front of the Library, to view the exhibition material and ask officers any questions you have about the proposal.

Information contained within this news release was correct as at Friday, 28 August 2015.