February 2024 | Media Releases
Appin Planning and Discovery Centre combats community misinformation
Member for Campbelltown Greg Warren has given his support to the new Appin Planning and Discovery Centre saying it will help to end misinformation about housing and infrastructure.
Walker Corporation has spent over $1 million restoring the old Appin Inn to transform it into a community information centre with the latest interactive technology to inform locals and visitors on its plan for future Appin neighbourhoods.
“In the absence of good communication, confusion will prevail. Keeping the community informed is something important to me both personally and professionally,” Mr Warren said.
“There are a lot of good and wonderful people who have lived here in Appin for a long time and they want to continue to live here… they just want to know what’s going on, and I can’t encourage everyone enough to come and have a look and ask any questions.
“People want to know that housing construction and infrastructure are going to be complementary. The government and Minister for Planning have made it clear, there will be no approvals without the complementary provision and delivery of infrastructure.”
Greg Warren - Member for Campbelltown
Walker Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer David Gallant echoed Mr Warren’s comments saying infrastructure will be delivered alongside homes.
“The Walker infrastructure plan has been submitted in draft to the NSW Government Department of Planning and we are excited to be able to talk people through our strategy in the Appin Planning and Discovery Centre,” Mr Gallant said.
Walker invested over $1 million to transform the old Appin Inn into an interactive Planning & Discovery Centre
“Our approach ensures critical infrastructure will be delivered alongside housing which will not only improve the lives of current residents who have been waiting years for infrastructure upgrades, but will make sure our new communities are safe, connected and convenient.”
The Appin Planning and Discovery Centre is equipped with an 8-metre-wide display controlled by touch screen technology, which details the infrastructure and staging plans including information on conservation, transport, schools, shops, jobs creation, internet connectivity, open spaces and amenities, fresh water and sewerage as well as bushfire safety.
Major infrastructure will be delivered in stages to service the needs of Appin’s growing neighbourhoods. Critical road and public transport upgrades will improve connections from Appin to Campbelltown-Macarthur, Western Sydney Aerotropolis, Wilton, Wollongong and the Southern Highlands while preserving the character of Wollondilly Shire’s heritage townships and creating safe new passages for wildlife crossings.
Appin's unique landscapes will be celebrated and integrated into each neighbourhood with one-third of the project site dedicated to protection and conservation. Over 500 hectares of preserved land will create new fauna corridors.
The Appin Planning and Discovery Centre is open five days a week and the first Saturday of every month. Walker Community Liaison Laurey Dougherty said the centre also gives the community the opportunity to ask us questions and let us know what they’re excited about.
“They can tell us what they want to see. This is their community. They’ve been here for a long time, and we want to know what is important to them in and amongst the neighbourhood we will deliver for them and the future generations who will call Appin home.”
