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Urban ActivationPrecinctsSydney is a rapidly growing, vibrant, global city. About 545,000new homes and 625,000 additional jobs will be required across theSydney basin to accommodate an extra 1.3 million people over thenext two decades.The NSW Government is committed to supportingSydney’s continued economic growth by providinghousing and employment opportunities with adequatesupporting infrastructure.It is important that planning for growth is integratedwith existing and planned infrastructure. Locating homesand employment close to regional centres and publictransport is a best practice planning approach.Epping Town Centre is one of eight Urban ActivationPrecincts identified across Sydney. It is a centre with widesocial, economic and environmental significance and overthe next 20 years is an ideal location to deliver more homesand jobs. There is strong demand for apartment dwellingswithin Epping. The long term benefits of the Urban ActivationProgram will include greater housing choices, increasedamenities, services and improved public spaces.STUDY PREPARATION»» Investigations and studies prepared in consultation with Hornsby Shire Council, Parramatta City Council andgovernment agencies»» Councils’ joint 2011 town centre study used as foundation»» Transport infrastructure, heritage and public domain investigations were a focus.PUBLIC EXHIBITION»» Department of Planning & Infrastructure exhibits plans – 16 March – 19 May 2013WE ARE HERE»» Formal public submissions invited and community consultation events held.SUBMISSIONS REVIEW»» All submissions published on the Department of Planning & Infrastructure’s website»» Ongoing consultation with councils and community groups to discus the matters raised.»» Submissions report is prepared summarising matters raised.RECOMMENDATIONS MADE TO THE MINISTER»» Minister decides whether to proceed with the proposals»» If approved, Parramatta City Council and Hornsby Shire Council Local Environmental Plans will be updated toinclude new controls for the Epping Town Centre Urban Activation Precinct»» If approved, Precinct Support Scheme funding becomes available.FUTURE DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS (DAS)»» Councils will determine all future development applications for sites in the precinct in accordance with the LocalEnvironment Plan and Development Control Plan.Epping Town CentreUrban Activation Precinct
Epping Town CentreThe precinctin contextWalkability is at theheart of the UrbanActivation PrecinctprogramThe Epping Town Centre UrbanActivation Precinct includes streetswithin a 10-minute walk – 800 metres– of Epping Station.VisionThe vision for Epping over the next 20 yearsincludes:»» high density apartments, office spacesand shops, along with renewedpublic areas in the town centre core»» an average of 180 new homes peryear over the next 20 years»» improved connections, especiallyfor pedestrians and cyclists»» heritage conservation areasand heritage items maintainedand protected.»» a revitalised public domain tocreate a vibrant place for the localcommunity to enjoyThe area was selected as one of eightUrban Activation Precincts because itfeatures:»» good access to education and jobsvia Epping Station»» public transport benefits from theNorth West Rail Link»» strong demand for homes in thetown centre core»» economically feasibleredevelopment opportunities.Epping town centre urban activation precinctEpping town centre visionEpping Town CentreUrban Activation Precinct
Town centre coreLand use and built form»» Highest density development andtallest buildings (up to 22 storeys)»» Apartments on higher levels setback from the street»» Lower levels to include shops andsmall scale offices to boost activityon Rawson Street and OxfordStreet»» Taller, slender buildings not lower,bulkier buildings to allow:»» Testing indicates these heightswould not have overshadowingimpacts on surrounding,established residential areas——larger separation betweenbuildings——greater amounts of sunlight toreach the street——potentially more open space atpodium and ground level.»» Setbacks from the site boundary will:——make buildings less visible whenwalking along the street——avoid streets appearing ‘canyonlike’——minimise ‘wind-tunnel’ effect.»» 20 year plan and development willnot occur all at once, large siteswith single ownership likely to beredeveloped firstEpping Town CentreUrban Activation Precinct
Outside thetown core centreMaximum floor space ratio»» Five areas outsidethe core have beenidentified for mediumdensity townhouses or2–5 storey apartments»» Up to 1,200 new homescould be provided inthese areas over thenext 20 years»» These sites transitionbetween the highdensity core and thelow density existingresidential areas beyond»» Low density residentialheritage conservationareas maintainedEpping Town CentreUrban Activation Precinct
Public domainPublic domain concept planImproved public spaces could include:»» continuous, connected paths, together with clear signs,to enhance convenience and safety»» a variety of public spaces, including a new plazaon Rawson Street, upgraded parks and communityfacilities, along with public art projects»» a new town square and cultural hub on PembrokeStreet near Epping Library»» increased street tree planting and water features»» upgraded intersection of Pembroke Street, OxfordStreet, Langston Place and Cambridge Street – whichleads to the train station entry – to improve access,traffic, and paving, lighting and signage»» investigate options for expansion of West Epping Parkonto the former bowling club, which Hornsby Councilhas recently acquired»» Some improvements could be funded with 5–6 million through the NSW Government’s PrecinctSupport Scheme.Epping Town CentreUrban Activation Precinct
TransportEncouraging publictransport use»» Epping Station offers services to the Sydney CBD,Macquarie Park, Chatswood, North Sydney, CentralCoast, and Newcastle»» It will also be the starting point for the North West RailLink connecting Epping to major employment centressuch as Norwest Business Park»» Epping Station is also a major bus interchange»» The Department of Planning & Infrastructure is workingclosely with Transport for NSW to ensure bus servicesincrease with demandCar parking»» Proposed parking rates strike a balance betweenproviding for demand and encouraging travel bypublic transport»» As most new homes will be close to public transport,shops and other services in the town centre, anaverage of one car space per apartment is suggested»» Car share schemes would be encouraged in newapartment buildings»» Car parking rates for retail and commercial are set atthe same level as for Granville and Harris Park TownCentres which are also located close to train stationsThe 2011 Study findings and Government response.The study identified issues with peek hour delays andqueuing at major intersections. The study also found:»» road upgrades would help alleviate traffic butstrategies to reduce car use would be more effective»» encouraging people to use public transport should bea priority»» increased development to 2026 would account for only5% of increased traffic in the precinct»» bicycle routes could be improved as they are currentlyunmarked and on road.The NSW Government announced funding in the2012-13 State budget for road and intersectionupgrades, including:»» Epping Road/Essex Street intersection»» Epping Road/Blaxland Road intersection»» carriageway widening – Epping Road»» Carlingford Road/Beecroft Road intersection»» widening for third west bound lane and pedestrian/cycle footbridges over rail line.Environment and movement planEpping Town CentreUrban Activation Precinct
HeritageBoth councils have recognised some areas of traditional lowscale residential development as heritage conservation areasand heritage items due to their consistent building design andcharacter.These areas have been enhanced and protected in the structure plan.Existing and proposed heritage areas are:»» Parramatta area:——Epping/Eastwood (existing –extension proposed)——Wyralla Avenue (existing)——Boronia Park (proposed).»» Hornsby area:——East Epping (proposed)——Essex Street (proposed)——Rosebank Avenue (proposed).A detailed heritage reviewrecommended 22 items to be listedas local heritage items.A potential archaeological itemon Oxford Street – the remainsof an early 19th century sawingestablishment – will affect howexcavation is carried out on the sitebut will not restrict development.Heritage planEpping Town CentreUrban Activation Precinct
Thank youFeedbackHave your say on the plans by making asubmission via:»» email toplan comment@planning.nsw.gov.au»» fax to (02) 9228 6455»» post to Director, Strategic Assessments,Department of Planning & Infrastructure,GPO Box 39, SYDNEY NSW 2001.The public exhibition period closeson 19 May 2013.Full versions of exhibition documents can be viewed at:»» NSW Department of Planning & Infrastructure, Information Centre,23–33 Bridge Street, Sydney»» Hornsby Shire Council Administration Centre, 296 Pacific Highway,Hornsby»» Epping Library, Chambers Crt (off Pembroke Street), Epping»» Parramatta City Council, 30 Darcy Street, Parramatta»» Dundas Valley Branch Library, Sturt Street, Telopea(opposite Telopea Public School)Epping Town CentreUrban Activation Precinct
- of Epping Station. The area was selected as one of eight Urban Activation Precincts because it features: » good access to education and jobs via Epping Station » public transport benefits from the North West Rail Link » strong demand for homes in the town centre core » economically feasible redevelopment opportunities. Epping Town Centre
