Jamieson Property Group Pty Ltd

The enclosed submission is a response to Councils Call for Expressions of Interest in the Springwood Town Centre Project for all three (3) sites.

The submission meets the primary objections of the Town Centre Project, by contributing to and itself being an economically viable mixed use proposal as well as renewing and significantly enhancing community facilities and services.

The strategies applied to each site attempt to balance and respond to community expectations, geographical constraints, and market analysis.

Currently the Council carparking fronting Springwood Road [Northern Carpark] is disconnected from the existing retail and transport links, is difficult to access and is at an awkward level.
The Town Square is limited in functionality for both formal and informal use.
The Civic Centre is tired, hidden and unwelcoming.

In approaching the three sites, the following opportunities and constraints were recognised and factored into the concepts;

• The Springwood Community lacks the convenience of a full line supermarket and does not offer a comprehensive range of everyday consumables. By providing this type of facility, existing retail businesses along Macquarie Road will be strengthened with escape expenditure to surrounding areas reduced.
• Upgrade, consolidation and integration of both sides of Macquarie Road will enhance hospitality opportunities such as restaurants, cafes, giftware and provide an inviting destination for passing tourist trade.
• Evidence suggests reasonable demand for additional commercial premises given proximity to transport (rail). This will also create an employment destination and further strengthen the town centre with a workforce.
• Demand for residential living in the town centre may not be currently supported. But as the town centre is enhanced and becomes a vibrant destination through this proposal, one could expect this demand to increase. The future development of the rear of the Civic Centre will cater for this and provide a good transition to the residential zone along David Road.
• Providing a vibrant public open space and reinforcing existing community facilities will consolidate the community ethos and strengthen the viability of the retail precinct as a destination.
• Supply of additional retail space needs to be balanced and not undermine existing retailers. Oversupply may be unsustainable and detrimental to existing retailers. This component of the proposal has been limited.
• Current public carparking is disconnected. By integrating carparking on the north and south side of Macquarie Road, one large-scale, convenient and weatherproof facility is created for the use of the entire Town.

Recognising the above points identifies where opportunities lie, in providing sustainable development in Springwood. Key determining factors in strengthening and attracting interest in Springwood are; scale and composition of traders and the quality of public domain.

Our proposed development of the Northern Carpark provides links to transport (train and bus), existing retail (Franklins) public open space (Town Square) and customer carparking.

Development of the Southern Carpark offers higher quality public open space, enhanced bushland views and further linked convenient carparking. The proposal for the Civic Centre site offers centralised community services, an upgrade of facilities to showcase of the community culture and a future residential use.

A more detailed review of each site accompanies this submission. The proposal aims to retain community identity, provide employment opportunities, strengthen the core retail precinct, upgrade community facilities and raise the profile of Springwood.