Marrickville Metro has listened to the community and has revised its plans in response to the major issues raised.
We have consulted with the community in a range of ways including:
- Two community information sessions
- Staffed displays in the centre
- Letterbox drops to 5,000 residents
- Community door knock of 500 houses – and surveys with 200 people
- This website.
The major issues during the consultation process and how we have responded in our revised plans are set out below.
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Size |
- 22 per cent reduction in floor space – or 4,703 square metres
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Traffic |
- Reduced traffic flows as a result of the reduced size of the new centre
- Road improvements to manage increased traffic, inlcuding slip lanes to prevent queuing, new car park entry and exit on Edinburgh Road, three loading docks combined into one on Murray Street, new roundabouts and adjusted traffic timings
- Smidmore Street to be retained as a public road
- Reduce the number of new car parking spaces from 715 to 528 to reflect the smaller size of the centre.
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Noise |
- Relocating new loading dock on Murray Street further south away from homes.
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Litter |
- A new litter management plan has already been implemented by centre management, in liaison with Marrickville Council.
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Trolley management |
- New trolley retrieval system has already been implemented by centre management.
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Visual impact |
- Overshadowing minimised and residents’ privacy protected
- Major facelift to the building and surrounds
- Replace existing walls on Murray Street with shopfronts and brickwork
- New loading dock covered with brickwork
- Public domain concept for Smidmore Street, for consideration by Marrickville Council.
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Trees |
- Retain all existing mature lemon scented gums in Smidmore Street, all mature trees in Victoria Road and majority of fig trees in Murray Street
- Replanting trees and shrubs in Edinburgh Road.
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Local economy |
- Boost the local economy by keeping retail spend local
- Create 625 jobs in retail
- Minimal impact on local strips of between 1.5 – 5 per cent
- New Metro will not compete with strips – focus on different types of shops and services.
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Heritage |
- Integrate new Metro with character of the local area
- Showcase the area’s heritage features, such as the Mill House
- Architectural features on Murray Street to celebrate the industrial history of the site and the surrounding area.
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In research conducted in 2008, we spoke to 1,200 Marrickville residents about the centre and found:
One in two people found the idea of an expanded Metro "very appealing" Nearly 70 per cent wanted more retail variety in the Metro 70 per cent thought an upgraded Metro would serve the community better.
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