The Draft Lidcombe Town Centre Public Domain Plan has been developed to “guide the delivery of consistently high-quality public realm to reinforce the centre’s role in creating healthy, creative, culturally rich and socially connected communities”.
It sets out a range of revitalisation improvements, including a wide palette of streetscape treatments (street furniture, landscaping and finishes) and also provides guidelines to assist developers and the council in undertaking works in the area.
It also features design solutions that enhance the amenity and character of the centre for residents, visitors, businesses and other users, provision of upgraded connections for better access and improved pedestrian and vehicular network within the centre, promotion of outdoor dining and street activation by improving pedestrian amenity and access to outdoor dining areas, improvements to the urban canopy and green cover to mitigate urban heat island effects, and encourages social interaction and environmental practices.
Welcoming the plan, Councillor Helen Hughes said the Lidcombe Town Centre had been looking tired for many years, which hadn’t been helped by over-development and no additional infrastructure.
“Traffic and parking are major issues, they’re going to need a lot of comprehensive consideration and planning,” she said.
“It has been a nightmare for a number of years.
“I would hope we have a lot of documentary from people, it is really critical, we have to make the best of this situation.”
Councillor Sabrin Farooqui said the plan was “pretty detailed” and also encouraged everyone to have a say.
Resident Tony Oldfield spoke to the council and said public amenity was too often an after-thought.
“Public infrastructure, tree canopy, parking, recreational space, and traffic requirements should all be done before developers get their hands on our community,” he said.
The first stage of works will receive $7.6 million in funding under the NSW Government’s WestInvest grant program.
