In December, the Cumberland Local Planning Panel approved a development application (DA) for partial demolition and refit of the double-storey building which sits on the edge of the Auburn Central forecourt.
The former station was deemed “no longer fit for purpose” and sold off in 2019, with its crews moved to the new purpose-built Northmead Ambulance Service which now services the Auburn community, along with a Paramedic Response Point (PRP) at the University of Notre Dame, Auburn.
The new venue will not have on-site parking, with a council report noting that as a heritage building it was not possible to create any spaces on site and that planning controls requiring 88 new parking spaces were “excessive” and out of date.
However under a deferred commencement, the applicant, Vic On The Park Trust, was asked to make a number of minor design changes to their plans for the 85-year-old building, such as retaining wooden frames where possible and using a wooden panel lift door to soften the appearance of perforated aluminium screening.
The only objection received to the DA during the public exhibition period, described it as “not fitting with the community’s needs and brings no benefit to residents” and called for it to be used as a community venue, however council planning officers deemed the change of use “satisfactory”, with appropriate conditions to address site operations, hours of operation, noise, safety and odours.
