Epping Coles site planning proposal for 420 units progresses after Parramatta Council endorses plans

Opponents say it will “destroy” their lives, supporters say it will rejuvenate a dying suburb. Now plans for a two-tower apartment complex to anchor a northwest Sydney suburb are advancing.

Artist's impressions of Epping town centre redevelopment.

Opponents of a contentious planning proposal for two towers fear it will “destroy” the lives of locals but supporters say it is needed to revive the densely populated but lacklustre suburb of Epping.

Parramatta Council has endorsed the 420-unit development on the Coles supermarket site at 53-61 Rawson Rd, meaning it will now go on public exhibition for a proposal that the state government will ultimately determine.

The site would include a podium between three and five storeys containing a full-line supermarket, shops, cafes and more than 7400sq m of office space.

Subject to approval a development application would be submitted for a 33 and 36-storey tower.

At the council meeting on Monday night, outraged resident Glenn Hodges objected to the “grossly excessive” proposal, which he argued was a staggering size difference to shorter blocks and houses in the neighbourhood.

Towers are slated to rise on the Coles Epping site.

“What will you tell the people when they come and ask you directly about why you are choosing to absolutely destroy their lives with this outrageously oversized development?

“I couldn’t give them a decent answer and I suspect neither can you.

Artist's impressions of Epping town centre redevelopment.

“Would you like to live directly next to this? Would you be happy if this was going to be built next to your house?’’

He said almost two thirds of respondents – 97 out of 149 – or 65 per cent, objected to the proposal during submissions.

If the plans get the go-ahead, the council’s building height controls for this section of Epping will soar from 48m to 112m.

However, resident Dave Black strongly supported increasing heights for Epping and endorsed the town centre masterplan.

Many consider Epping dead despite the metro station.

“The western side of the Epping town centre is in need of rejuvenation,’’ he said.

“I believe that it will benefit from more commercial, residential and retail space. We are in a housing crisis and the location is excellent, how can more residential dwellings be unlocked in the area?’’

Epping ward councillor and Deputy Lord Mayor Cameron MacLean said the development would be an anchor to revive Epping, which had been “dying a slow death for 20 years”.

“This proposal actually includes 13,677sq m of retail and commercial space, which is a sorely needed and very good thing in Epping town centre,’’ he said.

“In fact the entire building of three to five storeys is said to comprised retail and commercial aspects, also adding to the height.

Epping town centre redevelopment incorporates bike lanes.

Greens councillor Sue Greenwood slammed the extra levels on the podium as a developer’s “grab for money” but backed the development amid the housing crisis even though it would encroach on older residents’ homes.

“... I note this isn’t a heritage area but it is a beautiful old area with people living in well-established homes who love their area, who are now going to get 36-storey towers, and I’m very sad to see that happen.’’

Liberal councillors Issa, Lord Mayor Martin Zaiter, Tanya Raffoul, Georgina Valjak, Sreeni Pillamarri and Manning Jeffrey opposed the towers. Independent Kellie Darley was absent from the meeting.

On the same night, the council unanimously approved the draft masterplan to upgrade Epping town centre.

It includes the creation of a Civic Place, laneways, a modern town square with safer pedestrian connections and open spaces.

Four key areas include converting the existing Rawson St carpak into Epping Civic Place – a town square with a green link to Boronia Park. There will be underground parking, a potential new library and community centre.

How the new library could look.

Rawson St will be a “high street destination” with cafes, restaurants and shops, widened footpaths, dedicated bike lanes, street tree planting and improving traffic conditions.

Epping Laneway will comprise a network of laneways connecting Beecroft Rd to Boronia Park, with outdoor dining, public art and seating.

Beecroft Rd will include a new pedestrian bridge to connect commuters to shops and offices from the train station.

Epping is forecast to grow by 31 per cent in the next decade

Cr MacLean called the masterplan an “extraordinary piece of work” that was long overdue, adding it would help ease Epping’s congestion problems.

“It is a town centre with excellent credentials and a very large population centre, and yet for years it sat underutilised ... ,’’ he said.

“....Residents routinely come to us and complain about the state of Epping because they’re feeling a lack of suburb pride and for the way Epping town centre looks.’’

Feedback on the apartment complex and masterplan are open for feedback from next week.

Originally published as Epping Coles site planning proposal for 420 units progresses after Parramatta Council endorses plans