UPDATE - July 2018 Revised Recommendations passed by Council.

After extensive community consultation with our three Epping ward councillors, a revised set of recommendations went to Council on 9th July and were passed unopposed. There were 14 important recommendations, and most reflect community concerns or will work towards better planning outcomes for Epping. The Trust has carefully assessed the key points of these motions.

Key points that the Trust essentially supports include:

The Trust welcomes the recommendation that the Traffic Study will now go out to public consultation and, importantly, that there will be a community meeting and input.

The Trust supports the move by council to use the traffic findings to try and curtail further development over and above that already contained in planning controls, which is already excessive. However, the traffic report is woefully thin on solutions

The Trust thinks the analysis showing the real rate of growth of the Epping population and how it may result in up to 10,000 more residents is important. It may still well be an under estimate. 

The Trust supports the recommendations seeking more commercial floor space in Epping to reverse the disastrous loss of commercial activity in the current planning.

We welcome the addition of the Chambers Court Library site, along with Rawson street car park, to now be the subject of detailed planning for future community facilities

The Trust supports the recommendation opposing the current plans for the Austino site, including the former Epping Bowling Club site, and the rejection of a windfall financial gain for the developer if the council was to buy the site. This land is zoned open public space and should remain as recreational outdoor area.

Linked to this, the Trust is interested in the two recommendations saying Council will investigate a new park area on the north east side of Epping, and seek government funding towards it. More open space is essential to meet the needs of the growing population

The Trust does have some concerns with the recommendations regarding changes to Heritage Conservation Areas. Whilst there are complex issues involved with each of these areas, the bottom line is that they are a buffer to further widespread development and any changes weakens them into the future.

The Trust also has concerns about the recommendation on the development of the Rawson St car park site and the Library site into the future as it specifically mentions the use of Floor Space Ratio to release the potential of the sites. This, in essence, means selling off the rights to building over the sites (presumably more residential) in return for community facilities like basement parking, new library, community meeting space, outdoor plaza etc. This will be absolutely critical infrastructure so any trade off for more apartments needs to be justified by the highest possible level of return to the community. The Trust will be carefully monitoring this.

It should be acknowledged the intensive work put into these recommendations by Councillors Wearne, Tyrell and Davis. They have shown great interest in Epping, and diligence by greatly improving the original flawed recommendations put forward by council staff.

UPDATE - June 2018 Paper and Recommendations to go to Council meeting on 25 June.

The City of Parramatta have published an important paper on the future of Epping - which is an update of key actions from the 2017 Epping Planning Review process. There are 9 important recommendations going before council at their meeting on 25th June. The Trust has carefully assessed the key points of these motions to form its response, which it will present at the council meeting.

Key points that the Trust essentially supports include:

The Trust welcomes the recommendation that the Traffic Study will now go out to public consultation. The Trust will make detailed comments then on aspects it has concerns about.

The Trust supports the move by council to use the traffic findings to try and curtail further development over and above that already contained in planning controls, which is already excessive. However, the traffic report is woefully thin on solutions

The Trust thinks the analysis showing the real rate of growth of the Epping population and how it may result in up to 10,000 more residents is important. It may still well be an under estimate. 

The Trust supports the recommendations seeking more commercial floor space in Epping to reverse the disastrous loss of commercial activity in the current planning.

However, there are aspects in the review paper recommendations that the Trust does not support:

1. The Recommendations should not only cover the development of the Rawson Street car park site as a community space. It is not acceptable that there is no mention of the further enhancement of the Library site on the east side of Epping as well. The community clearly said at the review consultations that they want the Library retained and improved.

2. The Recommendations covering the management of the Planning Proposal for the Austino site and the former Bowling Club are problematic. The Trust only supports actions that will lead to the retention of open public space in this area.

3. The Recommendations that would lead to the removal of the Heritage Conservation Areas in three locations, and rezoning of another precinct, are not acceptable. These are critical areas that protect heritage and contain further development. They must be retained and even enhanced for the benefit of all residents into the future. The Trust intends to lobby forcefully against any moves to remove or water them down.

The Traffic Study can be accessed at Epping Town Centre Traffic Survey May 2018

The Introduction to the Planning Review with the recommendations going to council can be accessed at Epping Planning Review introduction

Depending what is passed at Council, residents will be invited to participate in important community consultation on all these keys matters. The Trust encourages people to be vocal and active.