Tired Sydney St shops to get $50,000 makeover

A strip of shops which residents and businesses say is “looking tired” will soon get a $50,000 makeover, to include new planter boxes and a fresh coat of paint.

Kristy and Carmen Briffa of Carmen’s Hair Design are glad the Oxley Park shops are about to get a facelift. Picture: David Swift

• Popular Lone Pine pub to get spruce up
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A strip of shops which residents and businesses say is “looking tired” will soon get a makeover.

The Sydney St complex, in Oxley Park, is set to have new planter boxes and a fresh coat of paint included in its $50,000 upgrade.

“I’m excited. The shops have been there for a very long time and could do with a clean up,” deputy mayor Tricia Hitchen said of the Penrith Council upgrade.

“People take a lot of pride in their surroundings if they look good, so I think this will brighten the place up,” Cr Hitchen said.

Most of the Sydney St shops were built between 1950 and 1970 and could do with a spruce up. Picture: David Swift

Since she was elected in September, Cr Hitchen has pushed for the council to shine a light on Oxley Park, an area she said had been overlooked.

All councillors endorsed the project, to enhance the privately owned site, at a meeting last week.

Cr Hitchen said the impending upgrade was the “first step” in the suburb’s overhaul.

The news was welcomed by business owner Carmen Briffa, of Carmen’s Hair ­Design, who has worked out of the building on and off since 1996.

Penrith deputy mayor Tricia Hitchen (left) talks to resident Kay Hearne about the suburb’s over development issues in October. Picture: David Swift

“This shop has been here for 42 years and it’s never changed,” Ms Briffa said. “It would be excellent for the council to do something like that. It would encourage more people to come here.”

Ms Briffa said new residents “don’t even know” the bunch of small businesses exist, as they are tucked away and tired looking.

Sydney St hairdressers Kristy and Carmen Briffa. Picture: David Swift

“I would like it to look a bit more modern. I like what they (the council) have done in Queen St, St Marys. Those planter boxes are quite nice.”

The upgrade is expected to add more appeal to the quiet neighbourhood shops, which include a chemist, corner store and popular uniform shop.

Landlord Clive Laybutt agreed the site needed “a spruce up” but confirmed he and the other owners had no plans to alter the building.

A Penrith Council spokesman said the changes would fall under council’s neighbourhood renewal program which “refeshes and invigorates community focal points” through amenity upgrades and art.

He said council would speak to the businesses ahead of work starting on the site.