news, local-news,

A plan to create a trendy dining and entertainment precinct at Menangle's dilapidated rotolactor and creamery is one step closer to becoming a reality. The rural hamlet – pending approval – will be home to restaurants, a bakery, a micro-brewery, bars, a hotel, children’s play areas, a function centre and a farmer's market shed. Property owners Ernest Dupere and Cameron Halfpenny will submit their masterplan for the site to Wollondilly Council next week. Mr Dupere said they had been working on their vision for the precinct for the past 12 years. "It has been a fantasy of ours for a long time," he said. "We want to create a place where people can come for a day out or for a few drinks - they could even stay the night. "We will have an open air area so that parents can watch junior in the playground while they enjoy a few drinks." Mr Dupere has partnered with developer Mirvac to develop the precinct, which is included in a proposal to build 350 houses on the property. The development application for the first 97 homes to be built at the site is currently on public exhibition with Wollondilly Council. Mirvac development director Nino Babani said the homes if approved would be built with the rural character of Menangle in mind. "We want to be sympathetic to the people who already live here," he said. "We are working with heritage consultants and the council to come up with materials and designs that would suit the area. "There won't be a lot of flat roofs, there will be more pitched roofs and all of the houses in this first stage will be single storey. "We are open to public feedback and we encourage people to get in touch with us. We will also be holding community information sessions." Mr Babani said the first blocks of land facing Station Street would be 1200 square metre blocks. "The rest of the blocks will be between 500 and 800 square metres - which is bigger than what we have seen in some suburbs of Camden," he said. "There will also be a 2.6 hectare park behind the first lot of houses. "That will be built in stage one as we believe in providing amenities up front to help build communities. "There will be playgrounds and barbecue areas along with outdoor fitness areas like kick around spots, walking and cycle tracks." Mr Babani said the residential area complemented and enhanced the planned tourism precinct at the rotolactor site. "Imagine getting up for work in the morning, walking through the village and stopping at the bakery for a croissant and coffee before jumping on the train to work," he said. "We are pushing for electrified rail at the station because it is an important part of the site. "We don't shy away from heritage - we embrace it and we want to see the rotolactor and creamery thrive like our other projects the Tramsheds at Forest Lodge, the Rozelle stockyards and Wash Bay Wharf." Mr Dupere said the site would be cleaned, all the rubbish removed and the heritage look of the buildings will be maintained. “One of the sheds will be transformed into a cooking school, meeting rooms and general store,” he said. "Down the track - and this isn't included in our plans yet - we would love to have an amphitheatre for outdoor concerts. "I think the land is perfect for that. "Why should people have to travel all the way to the Hunter Valley? Why can't we have The Dooby Brothers play out here?"

https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/XyDK2mdecfTpQsAbSqFiUd/884bca65-a7fc-44e0-9c3e-b152a9b21429.jpg/r111_0_3166_1726_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg