Mirvac lodges plans for 300 Manchester Rd Auburn
Developer Mirvac has chosen to abandon its monster residential plans for Manchester Rd, Auburn in favour of an unexpected alternative.
Parramatta
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Contentious plans to build almost 3000 apartments at Auburn have been scrapped with a “unique” business estate to emerge on the Manchester Rd site.
Mirvac has lodged a development application with Cumberland Council for a business hub with warehouses, offices and a cafe across 14 hectares or 73,000sq m, at 300 Manchester Rd.
Initial plans triggered community frustrations because developers PAYCE initially proposed 2900 homes in an industrial zone.
Opponents argued that the site, 1.7km from Auburn train station, was unsuitable because it was too far from public transport and the suburb’s infrastructure was already struggling to cope with the soaring population.
Mirvac industrial general manager Richard Seddon said the industrial hub would ideally attract e-commerce companies, just as its Calibre project has at Minchinbury.
“What we’re seeing is a growth in online sales that typically requires more warehouse space to fulfil the supply chain to deliver goods to people’s homes,’’ he said.
“We want to focus on high quality architecture outcomes to deliver a unique estate.
“We want people to drive past and go ‘wow’ it really enhances the feel of theIR suburb. We’re really focused on delivering high-quality work environments.”
The business park will generate 700 construction jobs and 1000 once operational.
Mirvac will also fund a roundabout to upgrade the intersection of Chisolm and Manchester roads.
Mirvac industrial general manager Richard Seddon said the hub would also go “beyond a traditional industrial park”.
“We want to get people away from the notion that it’s an industrial precinct, thinking it’s warehouses and unsightly,’’ he said.
“We want to focus on high quality architecture outcomes to deliver a unique estate.
“We want people to drive past and go ‘wow’ it really enhances their feel of the suburb. We’re really focused on delivering high-quality work environments.”
The application is expected to be on public exhibition by the end of the year before the Sydney Central City Planning Panel decides to approve or reject it.
If the project is approved, construction will begin late next year and the park would operate by 2022.
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