Camden Town Centre Developments

This poster appeared at the Camden Community Markets this week. It is encouraging anyone who has a view to attend a community open day.

Camden Town Centre Urban Design Framework

The aim of the open day is the development of the Camden Town Centre Urban Design Framework.
At the open day you are encouraged to share your thoughts and provide local insights. This is yet another attempt by Camden Council at community engagement around the Camden town centre.

The open day is held on 4 March with two locations:
1. Camden Produce Markets from 8.00-10.00am, and
2. Outside Blooms Chemist in Argyle Street from 12.30-3.30pm.

So if you have a big idea for the town centre area you are encourged to attend and tell the hired consultants, who are Sydney architects  McGregor Coxall.  These consultants are a firm of architects who state on their website that their principle roles are landscape architects, urbanism, environment and biocity research by making cities and communities sustainable, meaningful and resilient.

This is a place making exercise that will attempt to development the concept of the Camden Town Centre Urban Design Framework. What does this mean? It means that Camden Council feels that it needs to develop or re-develop the town centre. The key concepts that McGregor Coxall are concerned with are making the town centre more sustainable, meaningful and resilient for the local community. It is all about the community's sense of place and identity.

What does this mean for you?

If you have any concerns about the town centre you should be part of the process and get involved in this process.

Camden Region Economic Taskforce (CRET)

A not unrelated matter is announcement this week by Camden Council for honorary directors and chairperson for the Camden Region Economic Taskforce (CRET).

The advertisement states that the Camden LGA has a 'unique history and rural backdrop'. The CRET is a company limited by guarantee with the express aim to 

drive and facilitate economic growth in the Camden LGA through leadership, advocacy, coordination and recognition of our unique heritage. 

The CRET is to maintain a 'balance' between economic growth while

maintaining  Camden's unique historic heritage and natural environment. 

Anyone who has any questions on the CRET they should contact Camden Council and speak to Mark Anderson  0418 864 866 or Lindy Hyam  0417 886 826.

Leppington progress and development

Leppington

76 Rickard Road

 Camden Council, DA 422.1/2016

Brochure for the sale of 76 Rickard Road, Leppington

There has been a development application lodged by NRI Byron Developments Pty Ltd in April 2016  with Camden Council for a project at 76 Rickard Road. The project is for the construction of 3 four storey residential flat buildings containing a total of 250 apartments (1, 2 and 3 bedroom units), basement car parking, road construction, subdivision to create 2 lots and associated site works.

The proposal is to have 26 one bedroom units, 207 two bedroom units and 17 three bedroom units.

The value of the project is $85 million dollars. Currently the project has been referred for environmental assessment.

The heritage assessment of the locality states:

The study area is located within the 3000 acres granted to Alexander Riley in 1816. The grant in part was a consolidation of earlier grants made in 1809 to David Bevan (700 acres in two grants), Samuel Foster (100 acres), and John Pye (200 acres)1 , and Riley's 500 acres. This extensive land holding was located at the junction of Cowpasture Road and Bringelly Road, both key routes to the southern and western fringes of the Cumberland Plain. 

British colonisation of the country south-west of Liverpool began in 1809, and continued in the 1810s under the administration of Governor Macquarie and his successors into the 1830s. This was undertaken by alienation of the land and imposition of the rule of law. In most instances, land grants were made to free settlers and former military men with the wherewithal to establish stock runs. The grants were therefore large in area and consequently the country was sparsely settled. The soils are generally poor, but the creek systems of South Creek and Cabramatta Creek sustained farming over generations. 

In 1821 700 acres were granted to William Cordeaux, a colonial Land Commissioner, on the Cumberland Plains near Denham Court (Roads and Maritime Services 2013:24). On this property Cordeaux built a hill-top mansion which he named ‘Leppington Park’ after a village near his birthplace. The locality soon adopted this name and became known as Leppington. From the original grants at Leppington smaller farm holdings were subdivided, and since then the area has primarily remained a community of small farms.  

The development documents state:

The site is located within the Leppington Precinct of the South-West Priority Growth Area (SWPGA). The SWPGA and the North-West Priority Growth Area are strategic locations identified for the provision of much of Sydney’s long term housing supply. The Leppington Precinct is projected to provide up to 7,190 dwellings to house up to 24,000 people at full capacity.

Leppington Precinct Plan

The Leppington Precinct forms part of the SWPGA and planning for Stage 1 of its development is now complete. Stage 1 of the Leppington Priority Precinct was rezoned in November 2015. The Precinct Plan developed by NSW Planning and Environment (NSW P&E) to guide its future development makes provision for:

•  2,500 new homes; 

• A new primary school and K-12 school; 

•  A new community centre; 

• Upgraded rail and road infrastructure; and 

• New open space including playing fields and recreational lands. 

The Precinct benefits from proximity to Leppington Railway Station providing rail services along the South West Rail Link as well as a new ‘Major Centre’ within the Leppington North Precinct which provides opportunities for employment, shopping and entertainment.

Read more at Camden Council