Elara Marsden Park town centre: Planning panel decides on $35m plans
Elara estate’s long-awaited shopping centre and community hub will soon be a reality. It comes after years of campaigning from residents frustrated by the region’s lack of amenities and infrastructure.
Rouse Hill
Don't miss out on the headlines from Rouse Hill. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Marsden Park: Childcare centre, gym, cafe plans for Richmond Rd
- Blacktown: Marriott hotel chain reveals new western Sydney site
The fate of a groundbreaking plan to develop a town centre in Marsden Park’s booming Elara estate has been decided by the NSW Planning Department almost a year after plans were first lodged with Blacktown Council.
The proposal for a $35.5 million shopping complex, neighbourhood centre and dining precinct was approved by the State Planning Panel recently, giving the green light for construction to begin on the site off Harvest St and Northbourne Dr.
The development will sit at the heart of the bustling Elara estate, which has long been plagued by residents’ concerns surrounding a lack of infrastructure, transport options and public amenities.
As part of the approved plans, developer Stockland will construct a neighbourhood centre with a multipurpose hall and meeting rooms, a childcare centre for more than 120 children, shops, a medical centre and gym.
The development will also include a new supermarket, additional retail spaces and a car park for more than 360 vehicles.
A Stockland spokesperon said plans were being finalised to bring Coles on board as the centre’s anchor store.
The full-line Coles supermarket will feature a new market-style fresh produce hall, an in-store bakery baking fresh bread daily and a gourmet deli.
A medical centre would offer a range of services, including a dentist, physiotherapy, radiography, pathology and a pharmacy.
Mike Milligan, Elara project director for Stockland, welcomed the development approval.
“The approval represents a collaborative outcome with council and ensures that the Marsden Park Community Centre will be delivered as part of the Elara Village development,” Mr Milligan said.
“The future neighbourhood centre will provide convenient retail and community amenity as well as employment opportunities for our growing community.”
According to the panel, the development was deemed to be in the public interest.
“The proposal will provide the Marsden Park estate with much needed social and economic infrastructure to service the needs of the growing population,” documents read.
In a development pitch, Stockland said the development was essential in meeting the needs of the estate, which will have more than 4000 homes upon completion.
“The neighbourhood centre is intended to form the heart of the evolving community by providing an innovative and engaging place for people to gather and enjoy as well as a place to meet their daily needs,” planning documents showed.
The Elara estate sits within the booming Marsden Park business and residential precinct, with 30,000 people expected to call the area home once it is fully developed.
A date for the start of construction is expected to be announced in the near future.