The development application has been lodged by the City of Parramatta council for adaptations and changes to the new Epping Community Centre at 49 Rawson Street. 

Background:

In late 2018, the council bought the old Boronia Grove Function Centre from the Masonic Lodge. They have earmarked this building for use as a new Epping Community Centre - a facility badly needed by the increased population of Epping. The building was appealing as it was purpose built for use by the public and needs relatively modest changes to get it operational. It will offer a range of function and meeting room spaces - both for use by council, but also by local groups etc. The building already has a catering kitchen as well. 

In January 2020, a first DA was passed by the Planning Panel, and covered some needed adaptations and work inside to bring the building up to modern day standards for things like access and toilets etc. 

DA/107/2020

This second DA though goes further and introduces a number of wider changes including:

• New windows on the back of the building facing Boronia Park. There was a large room inside that had no natural light, so this seeks to address that
• Waste disposal areas, including a new additional site on the Boronia Park side, which would be accessed from Victoria Street
• Use of part of the building as a cafe
• An extension on the side of the building facing Boronia Park with an outdoor deck (partly covered with an awning), a disabled access ramp and a new path through the park joining to the end of the Rawson street car park
• Some tree removal, but it is not clear exactly the impact as no arborist report has been provided

The cafe and its outdoor deck has a number of questions that need to be addressed including:

• How they will ensure that the construction of the deck will not damage the mature tree that the deck is designed to wrap around?
• Is it appropriate to have hours of usage through to midnight on Friday/Saturday nights outside at this location? It faces residential apartments, and noise will carry. Should this be changed so that only the space inside can be used in the evenings? 
• Possible impacts on Boronia Park which is a precious area of open space in a built up area. 
• Possible impacts on the War Memorial which is very close to the outside deck area. Should there be some restrictions on usage of the deck on key dates like Anzac Day? 

Residents can look at the plans and make any submission to council - see the box opposite for details.