Cumberland Council puts Lidcombe masterplan on public exhibition

Spitting, ‘nightmare’ parking and neglected shopping strips for a ‘resident-unfriendly’ suburb need to be tackled if it is to improve, the community says, as its master plan is released for feedback.

There are plans for Joseph St to become an eat street.

The public and community leaders have called on Lidcombe to finally get the services and improvements it needs to keep up with the development that has engulfed the densely-populated suburb.

Alfresco dining and park upgrades are planned for Lidcombe’s revitalisation, with the first stage already securing a $7.6m state government allocation towards transforming Joseph St into an “eat street’’, providing dozens of trees and more than 800sq m of landscaping to beautify the hub.

The council will also contribute $2.8m towards its revamp.

Problems such as inadequate parking, ghastly advertising masking buildings and insufficient tree canopy were raised at a recent Cumberland Council meeting when it voted to release the masterplan, called the Draft Lidcombe Town Centre Public Domain Plan, for public feedback.

Auburn resident Tony Oldfield told the chamber “we are trying to affect changes after the damage has already been done” and said the masterplan left a lot to be desired.

“It seems most is left up to the desire or not of the developers whether things are implemented,’’ he said.

Joseph St at Lidcombe. Picture: Cumberland Council

He cited traffic congestion at Joseph St near Toohey Lane as a bugbear.

“I understand the importance for accessible parking, particularly for smaller businesses to thrive, but when we have obstacles that also damage the same businesses, that’s a problem,’’ he said.

He also criticised lack of diversity at the Joseph and John street shopping precincts where he wanted to preserve and enhance buildings’ heritage.

“Many of the great features of these buildings are hidden under often hideous and ugly advertising,’’ he said.

He labelled the lack of tree canopy and hard surfaces on Joseph St as “resident-unfriendly” and said “the much-loved fig tree” at Remembrance Park should be replaced.

Even the repulsive act of spitting was raised.

“We need to come to grips with this challenge,’’ Mr Oldfield said.

Our Local Community councillor Helen Hughes agreed Lidcombe was already overdeveloped.

“There is unfortunately plenty of development – far too much development – going on there, but there has been no additional infrastructure for the community and that is what needs to be included at the tiredness of the town centre,’’ she said.

“Traffic and parking is a major issue and it’s going to need a lot of comprehensive consideration and planning for that – it has been a nightmare for a number of years.’’

During the meeting, the council also voted for Lidcombe’s Chadwick Reserve masterplan to be approved, with the upgrade to playground equipment, tables and seating and public toilets.

Plans for Lidcombe revitalisation will be displayed on Cumberland Council’s website in late February for 28 days.