Rejuvenation of Blaxland town centre given the go-ahead by council

At last week’s council meeting the master plan for the area was signed off, but there’s a lot of work to be done and funds to be sourced before construction starts.

The Lower Mountains Neighbhourhood Centre and library below Hope St will move to the centrally located ‘Pilgrim Place’, using council-owned car parking east of Station St. This area will also include a multi-deck carpark, shop-top housing, and a shared laneway between old and new shopfronts.

Increasing building heights to three or four storeys above ground to allow more medium density housing – smaller buildings for single people – in the town centre will also be investigated, and involve further community consultation later this year.

Replacing the pedestrian ramp in Station St with a lift is also planned.

The neighbourhood centre’s acting manager Tracey Willow welcomed the plan’s approval.

“In our conversations with the community, they have talked about the need for all people to have a place in the centre of Blaxland to meet and socialise, find out information and connect with other people,” she said.

“People want community facilities to be welcoming, centrally located and closer to public transport. The incorporation of the neighbourhood centre into the proposed Blaxland town centre has the potential to achieve this for our community” .

Ms Willow said the centre’s services would be more accessible and visible in the new location.

“We also imagine the new town centre will be an attractive place to visit – for locals and tourists and will inspire diverse arts and cultural programs that celebrate the many cultures within the Lower Mountains,” she said.

As part of the plan, this year the council will advocate to the NSW government for an extension to the commuter carpark at Blaxland train station and for more commuter parking in the Lower Mountains and will develop a pedestrian and cycle network plan.