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The $2 billion Western Sydney Infrastructure Grants Program (formerly known as WestInvest) is funding transformational infrastructure projects across Western Sydney. Funded projects will improve the liveability of communities and support economic recovery, making a real difference to the quality of life in 15 Local Government Areas in the region.
For more information see https://www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/western-sydney-infrastructure-grants-program
Epping is a Strategic Centre as identified in the A Metropolis of Three Cities Greater Sydney Regional Plan. Located 10 kilometres northeast of Parramatta and about four kilometres west of Macquarie University and Macquarie Park, Epping has experienced 4% urban density growth in recent years (compared with 1% across Greater Sydney). It also contains several public and private primary and secondary schools that are within walking distance from the town centre.
The project site covers the eastern part of Epping Town Centre. Specifically:
- Oxford Street
- Langston Place
- Pembroke Street
- Cambridge Street
These four streets form the main retail and commercial centre on the eastern side of Epping and radiate out from Epping transit hub.
This side of the Epping transit hub has a large number of bus stops, existing medium density residential development and a school to the east.
Developed in consultation with the community and following detailed traffic investigations, the project will achieve:
- Increased greening by planting the maximum number of new street trees while accommodating underground services
- Minimal impact on car parking
- Enhancing the School of Arts frontage as a key feature through decorative lighting, up-lit trees and a unique palette for paving and street furniture to strengthen local identity and place
- Decorative lighting along Oxford Street, including five laser cut totems with internal lighting and an LED lit laser cut seating rotunda in the laneway between Oxford and Cambridge Streets
- Irrigated ground cover planting in tree pits along Oxford Street.
- Steps and ramp access at the end of the lane at Cambridge Street
The final Concept Plan can be downloaded from Resources with examples of the lighting treatments and rotunda.
Key objectives of the ‘Epping Town Centre Streetscape Upgrade’ design included enhancing pedestrian safety and accessibility. This is achieved by upgrading lighting and improving pedestrian accessways and pavement gradients whilst having minimal impact on parking and vehicular functionality.
New furniture, materials, and finishes will foster visual harmony throughout the streetscape, ensuring it is both attractive, connected and provides a sense of place unique to the area.
Additionally, planting of new mature trees in expanded underground tree pits will promote optimal tree growth and canopy coverage, offering essential shade for visitors and businesses alike.
Council has secured funding for this project through the NSW Government’s Western Sydney Infrastructure Grants Program and Accelerated Infrastructure Program. This funding has enabled upgrades across the eastern side of the town centre.
Works will start in March 2026 and are anticipated to take nine months.
There will be no loss of parking on Oxford, Pembroke and Cambridge Street. There will be minimal parking impact on Langston Place.
The removal of the street trees is the first part of the Epping town centre streetscape upgrade.
The contractor will be removing all the trees within the construction area (Oxford Street, Pembroke Street, and Langston Place) over late March. Then larger-sized 400L trees will be progressively replanted as part of the streetscape construction work over the remaining construction period (approximately next 9 months).
The current trees are water gums which are small to medium sized tree species that have reached their growth limit. The new trees which will be predominately urban ash will grow much taller (up to 15m) to create better canopy cover and provide an immediate improvement effect. The trees will also be supported by better growing conditions from having new tree cells.
Council undertook community consultation in August 2022 to inform upgrades to the Epping Town Centre. A draft concept plan was presented in October 2022, with 76% of submissions supporting the proposal, followed by public exhibition of a refined concept plan in December 2022.
Subsequently, Council secured additional NSW Government funding, enabling an expanded scope of works. The expanded draft concept plan was publicly exhibited in October 2024, receiving 78% community support.
Please contact City of Parramatta’s Project Manager, Hang He on telephone 9806 8113 or our Customer Contact Centre on 1300 617 058 or email council@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au for additional information.
