FAQs

A Development Control Plan (DCP) provides planning standards and controls to guide new development, and is relevant to applications for development, e.g. Development Applications.

The Wollondilly Cultural Precinct in Picton is an important and transformative project, providing contemporary community and cultural facilities for the wider Wollondilly Shire community.

The vision is for the Precinct to become the community, civic, cultural and economic heart of Wollondilly.  

It seeks to provide a flexible, multipurpose community space that supports a diversity of community, cultural and civic activities and attracts a wide range of community members, businesses and visitors.

The Precinct would also be a community gathering place that provides a safe and inclusive venue for a wide range of formal and informal events and activities.

The Wollondilly Cultural Precinct will bring numerous benefits to the Wollondilly community:

Providing Service to the Community

Wollondilly Shire Council wants to maintain and improve our service to the community, now and into the future. 

Anchoring and Investing in Picton

Picton is recognised as a central location in Wollondilly Shire, and the historical heart of the region. 

More Local Jobs

Wollondilly’s growing population will require a level of service that will only be possible with more staff and better facilities – this will also mean more local jobs both during the construction phase and operational phase of the Wollondilly Cultural Precinct. 

The presence and operation of a performing arts centre, children’s services facility, state of the art library and large corporate office building in town is also beneficial for local providers of goods and services in terms of the demand for local services from cafes, restaurants, supermarkets, pharmacies and a wide range of local businesses

Energy Efficient

New, energy-efficient buildings will be more cost effective to operate and maintain – which means better value for Wollondilly ratepayers.

Environmentally Sustainable

Environmentally sustainable buildings will mean we are playing our part and leading by example in reducing our environmental impact. Some of the buildings will include aspects like harvesting water and using solar energy.

A Community Asset

The new buildings will be community assets with benefits for residents such as bookable meeting rooms, workspaces with desks, WIFI, booths and cubicles, underground parking anticipated to be available to the public after hours (e.g. for concerts). As well as this the Wollondilly Cultural Precinct will provide a range of opportunities for the community to participate and enjoy a number of recreational activities. 

Making Space for a New Library

Once Wollondilly Council staff occupy the new Government Services Building, the existing Council Administration building can be demolished to make way for construction of a larger, and more modern Library and Performing Arts Centre.

• A refurbished Shire Hall that will cater for Council meetings, as well as a wide variety of community groups and events
• New performance and exhibition spaces
• A new village green and a range of inclusive public open spaces that incorporate quality landscaping and public art
• A new contemporary library 
• Access to multipurpose community spaces 
• A new Government Services Building which would include Council’s administration offices and accommodate other Government Services and Agencies in the one location for easy access by the community within the Shire
• A new contemporary Children’s Services facility including a preschool
• Greater employment and business opportunities through improved meeting spaces and access to working hubs once the Precinct is established
• A greater investment in Picton to support local businesses and provide local job opportunities for the community during construction and throughout the ongoing operation of the Precinct.

Concerns were raised about the Planning Proposal to increase the allowable height of the Government Services Building. These have been included in the draft Wollondilly Cultural Precinct DCP controls. 

The proposed controls restrict the height of the Government Services Building to 2.5 storeys or 9m at the Colden Street frontage. Away from the street, the height is restricted to a maximum of 16m (which is generally 4 storeys). All other buildings in the precinct and Picton Town Centre are restricted to a height of 9m (which is generally 2 storeys).

Development applications for buildings in the precinct will also be subject to specific consultation in line with Council Community Participation Plan.

Community concerns around heritage, look and feel have been included in the draft Wollondilly Cultural Precinct DCP controls. These require building design to be consistent with heritage and semi-rural character, maintain the setting of the Shire Hall and maintain heritage view lines. 

An independent heritage consultant provided input into these controls. 

The form and size of the buildings in the precinct will be the subject of future deliberations and decisions for Council in the coming years, and there will be more community consultation during the design process.

Wollondilly has a rich European and Indigenous history which Council is keen to celebrate across the Wollondilly Cultural Precinct. The Shire Hall remains a centrepiece of the Wollondilly Cultural Precinct; and while we aim to build facilities that are modern and meet the needs of our community now and into the future; they will also pay homage to our European and Indigenous heritage and tie in with the heritage features of the Shire Hall. Council will also be exploring a number of opportunities to acknowledge our heritage through public art and partnerships with various community groups.

A two storey height limit is set to respond to the character of the area, with the exception of the Government Services Building.

The controls require that the Government Services Building transitions in height across the site from two to four storeys. The eastern elevation will be 2.5 storeys to Colden Street, with a larger setback of the upper building portion to Colden Street. This design approach will avoid privacy impacts to properties on the eastern side of Colden Street.

Given the size and complexity of the Wollondilly Cultural Precinct the entire project will take 10 years to complete and is expected to be finished in 2030.

The Government Services Building which forms part of Stage 2 of the project has to progress through planning, design and approval pathways prior to construction. These phases are currently underway and expected to take at least two years. Council is planning to commence construction as early as the 2024/25 financial year. 

The first stage of the project focused on upgrades to the Shire Hall, construction of a new Children’s Services Building, more parking and the Performing Arts Centre. Much of this work in Stage 1 is well underway or complete.

We know parking is a concern for the community. Council has developed a parking strategy to make sure we are delivering appropriate and accessible parking options for the community in and around Picton. 

Specifically, parking spaces are planned for the basement of the Government Services Building. Accessible parking spaces are planned for Menangle Street and Corbett (Manolis) Lane.  Additional car parks and spaces are being identified around Picton town centre to ensure there is parking available both during the daytime and evening. As well as a number of other options being considered, including ‘kiss and ride’ drop off zones, timed parking and accessible parking closer to the centre of town - with longer stay parking a short walk away (100-200m), and the slow transition towards being a town centre for people rather than vehicles. 

Council has already delivered more parking during Stage 1 of the Wollondilly Cultural Precinct in Walton Street with more to come.