Pendle Hill: Cassia Community Centre to be demolished and turned into carpark

Parking will soon get a boost in a bid to boost retail in a western Sydney suburb where security cameras and lighting are also earmarked.

Ambi’s Indian Restaurant owner Vimalasri Gunaratnam has felt the pinch of parking shortages at Pendle Hill.

Parking in Pendle Hill will soon get a boost in what will hopefully pull in more shoppers to support businesses in its main street as well as commuters using the train station.

The Civic Park carpark will be expanded after Cumberland Council agreed to demolish the vacant Cassia Community Centre at Billabong St, a project that will pave the way for up to 40 extra spots in a suburb where parking is tight.

Hoarding surrounds the building, which will soon face the wrecking ball. If engineers deem the site suitable, it could open by June 2026.

Cumberland Deputy Mayor Michael Zaiter said the carpark extension was needed to entice shoppers to support businesses as well as commuters.

The Wentworthville ward councillor envisaged different parking time limits – from entire day to two-hour maximum slots – to ensure commuters do not occupy all the spaces throughout the day.

The vacant Cassia Community Centre is about to be knocked down.

Ambi’s Indian Restaurant and Sweets owner Vimalasri Gunaratnam, whose mainstay business is at Pendle Way, supported the extra parking.

“It is very good they will do the carpark because there’s too much suffering,’’ he said.

Vimalasri Gunaratnam’s restaurant is at Pendle Way, the main street of Pendle Hill.

Mr Gunaratnam said his customers who wanted to dine in often had to rush because they could only find one-hour parking, or resorted to ordering over the phone to save time.

He was among several business owners who suggested the council make Pendle Way a one-way street with angled parking on the IGA supermarket side in an effort to solve shortages.

The council is considering the suggestion but serious planning won’t happen in the immediate future.

Pendle Hill’s multimillion facelift has started with the revitalised Civic Park reopening last year and new footpaths, street furniture, a new bus shelter and landscaping for the main streets due to begin in the next financial year.

The new carpark will join the lot at Civic Park.

The council recently voted to start a campaign to boost cleanliness in CBDs of Pendle Hill and Wentworthville.

“We are aware that we need to have those discussions with our local business people,’’ Cr Zaiter said.

“We’re hoping to provide the help but we can’t do it all ourselves.’’

Cash has also been thrown to boost security in Pendle Hill after Parramatta federal Labor MP Andrew Charlton pledged CCTV cameras during the election.

Under the promise, $2.2m worth of cameras and lighting will be rolled out across his electorate, including $720,000 for Cumberland Council to deliver the measures in crime hotspots.

At Pendle Hill, security upgrades include cameras between Pendle Way and Stapleton St, between Billabong St and Civic Ave leading to Civic Park, and between Pendle Way and Joyce St where a circular table, bins, new bus shelter, benches and a drinking fountain are proposed.

Lighting is slated for Bentley Lane, Yulunga Reserve and the seating area between Joyce St and Civic Ave.

The suburb had a retail battle on its hands in March when the Woolworths Metro shut but a campaign to sign up a replacement supermarket was successful when IGA started operating in April.

Originally published as Pendle Hill: Cassia Community Centre to be demolished and turned into carpark