Bypass planned for Wentworthville’s ‘revitalisation’

A $4.8 million bypass to rip through the heart of Wentworthville will only thrust the ailing shopping centre into more economic turmoil and choke it under the lack of infrastructure, the community says.

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A $4.8 million bypass to rip through the heart of Wentworthville will only thrust the ailing shopping centre into more economic turmoil and choke it under lack of infrastructure, the community says.

The bypass is a new feature of the revitalisation plan and will be on public exhibition until July 21.

The bypass will divert traffic from Dunmore St between Garfield and Station streets on to Pritchard St. A road linking Pritchard St and Lane St and on to Veron St will be constructed.

How the centre of Wentworthville could look.

Cumberland Council said it would change Dunmore St into a “pedestrian-friendly” plaza as part of the suburb’s transformation to include 600 units — some up to 20-storeys — in the town centre. There will be 9700sq m of retail including a supermarket.

The council’s general manager Hamish McNulty said the bypass would stop Dunmore St being used as a rat run.

He said 80 per cent of traffic on the street was used to reach other areas and and created unnecessary congestion.

“Therefore a bypass of Dunmore St was identified to improve amenity within the Wentworthville town centre and remove unnecessary congestion so local

business can operate more effectively,’’ he said.

“The bypass will enable Dunmore St to become a high pedestrian activity area with a 40km/h speed limit for local traffic and service vehicles.”

A pedestrian link proposed for The Kingsway.

Towers will dwarfs many older buildings, as seen in the bottom left of the image.

Cumberland Mayor Greg Cummings said the vibrant and modern town centre would include pedestrian links, footpath paving street furniture, public art, landscaping and supported Wentworthville Mall’s future.

Station St as seen from Friend Park.

But Wentworthville Mall trader John Lynch, who owns Donna’s Flower Shop, said the bypass and redevelopment would be the death of the shopping centre.

“We are talking about a development on the mall … that’s going to take at least three years,’’ he said.

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“When this happens the rents are going to be enormous.

“We are potentially talking about three times the rent. I think it’s a big mistake but I think the wheels have been set in motion and we don’t have any say in it.

John Lynch views the units where his childhood home once stood. Picture: Angelo Velardo

John Lynch's family in front of the their home at Garfield St, Wentworthville circa early 1970s.

He also shunned plans for the bypass through Dunmore St.

“The roads aren’t going to take any of the traffic,’’ he said.

“They’re proposing 600 units on the street alone, 3000 in the CBD. How many of these residents are going to have cars? I think it’s ludicrous. This will be the death of it.”

Angelo Kondos of Tracy Roberts Real Estate, Wentworthville, at Dunmore St.

Along with Pendle Hill, Mays Hill, Toongabbie, Westmead and parts of Greystanes and Merrylands, Wentworthville will face one of the biggest population explosions across the Cumberland council area over the next 20 years when 20,000 people are forecast to move there.

At Wentworthville, just under 4000 extra residents will live in the suburb by 2036, Mr McNulty said.

“The (Wentworthville planning and placemaking) strategy’s implementation plan identifies a range of

infrastructure and public domain improvements to support this anticipated growth

such as residential high rise development and the bypass,’’ he said.

Tracy Roberts Real Estate agent director Angelo Kondos welcomes high-density plans but said the shopping centre urgently needed to attract different retailers.

“There’s no mixture,’’ he said.

“We can’t bring people into the area because of that.

“Back in the day we had a take away shop with Italians, Greeks, the deli, a fish shop and the Chinese restaurants.”

The retail area planned for Dunmore St where Wentworthville Mall now stands.

Mr Kondos, who has sold homes in Wentworthville for 22 years, highlighted the need for better roads.

Residents are critical that plans don’t support infrastructure and population growth.

“It takes over 30 minutes at 5.30pm to get from Westmead to Wentworthville, which is absolutely ridiculous,’’ he said.

“People are always trying to reverse park.

“They fixed Merrylands up, they fixed Westmead and they’re neglecting Wentworthville.”

Westmead resident Frank Hughes also welcomed units but called for upgrades to the shopping centre.

“The units are fine but what do they do with the infrastructure?” he said.

“I reckon it’s under-utilised now.

Give us more infrastructure: Frank Hughes at Dunmore St, Wentworthville.

“It’s an alternative to Parramatta, rather than go to Parramatta and hassle for traffic. At the moment, none of the shops are open, it leaks like a sieve.

“I think they’ll start charging for parking but the biggest problem with units is they only allow one car sport and there’s usually two cars (per household).”

An employee, who has worked in Wentworthville for 35 years and only wanted to provide her first name of Dianne, was less charitable when she viewed an artist’s impression of the forest of units.

“I think it’s an absolute disgrace,’’ she said.

“The bloody place has gone mad. The council’s allowing all the units to be built and it’s ruining our lifestyle.’’

Wentworthville’s Graham Bayly said: “There’s no infrastructure. All high-rise crap. I think there should be more infrastructure.”

Feedback into the draft control plans can be made at haveyoursay.cumberland.nsw.gov.au before 11.30pm on Sunday, July 21.

Plans can be viewed online or at the council’s Auburn or Merrylands administration centres.

When the exhibition period finishes, the council will prepare a report into the community consultation.

● Public meetings will be held at Wentworthville Library on Thursday, June 13, from 6pm to 7.30pm and Saturday June 22 in the Banksia Room at Wentworthville Community Centre at 2pm.

Council staff will hold presentations followed by a question-and-answer session.