September 2021 consultation:

NSW Public Spaces Legacy Program

The NSW Government is investing up to $250 million through the NSW Public Spaces Legacy Program to support councils to deliver more and better public spaces across the state. This is the biggest injection of funding for public spaces in a generation.

The NSW Public Spaces Legacy Program will create fantastic outcomes for communities now and into the future, it will also keep people in jobs and the economy moving as we respond to the impacts of the pandemic.

To access the funding, councils needed to demonstrate accelerated development assessment processes – helping to reduce red tape and keep the broader economy moving. This incentive helps to drive the determination of local DAs and bolster the construction pipeline through to 2024. Cumberland City Council successfully accelerated its development assessment processes to receive the funding.

Merrylands Civic Square consultation

Merrylands Civic Square has been a planned project for Cumberland for some time, and is identified in Council’s plans as a new major public open space for the town centre. Now, Council has been successful in securing a Public Space Legacy Grant to fund the detailed design and construction of Merrylands Civic Square. 

The initial concepts for Merrylands Civic Square are drawn from the community's feedback in two rounds of consultation, which has helped to shape and inform the design. You told us that it should be:

• a public space for civic events and celebration
• an active space with cafes and restaurants
• a meeting place for the whole community
• a place that can be flexible for small groups and families as well as for large gatherings and events
• a space that is safe, day and night
• a place for locals that means ‘Cumberland’
• a unique landmark in the city centre with colour and shelter

We have also drawn inspiration from other designs. You can see some of them here:

Council is now reviewing the preliminary concept plan to ensure it is still relevant and captures the spirit of the Cumberland Community. You can view the inspiration elements in the document library, and view the concept plan below. 

As we finalise the design, we want your feedback in the survey below. Submissions were open until 11pm on Monday 11 October 2021. NOTE: Submissions have now closed.

 Proudly funded by the NSW Government in association with Cumberland City Council

Concept plan

The concept plan captures elements that the community asked for in previous consultation. Click on the image for a larger view.

The concept plan captures elements that the community asked for in previous consultation. Click on the image for a larger view.

The new Merrylands Civic Square is located between McFarlane Street and Merrylands Road utilising part of the former Council carpark and the former Merrylands Arcade site as shown below.

The work will be completed in two stages. The first stage constructed after completion of the current road and drainage works on the former carpark site. The second stage of construction will commence following the demolition of the Arcade.

Any questions?

If you have any questions about this project, please contact:

Christopher Manoski
Senior Coordinator Place & Engagement
P: (02) 8757 9000
E: Christopher.Manoski@cumberland.nsw.gov.au

Join the conversation and have your say!