Background
The Hunter and Central Coast Development Corporation required environmental assessment to support infrastructure upgrades within the Mount Penang Parklands precinct, including Baxter Track and Parklands North. The works formed part of a broader strategic redevelopment program, requiring alignment between infrastructure delivery, land use outcomes and statutory obligations under Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW).
Complexity
The project involved a range of planning and environmental considerations, including:
- Integration of infrastructure upgrades within an active and evolving redevelopment precinct
- Coordination of multiple specialist inputs across ecology, arboriculture and heritage
- Consideration of both Indigenous and non-Indigenous heritage values
- Ongoing design evolution during assessment and early delivery phases
Solution
EPS prepared a comprehensive REF and supported the client in aligning environmental assessment with broader redevelopment objectives.
- Strategic Alignment
- Worked closely with the client to understand project drivers and long-term precinct objectives
- Identified opportunities to align infrastructure upgrades with broader redevelopment outcomes
- Environmental Assessment
- Managed specialist inputs including ecology, arborist and heritage (Indigenous and non-Indigenous) assessments
- Integrated findings into a clear and structured REF addressing key environmental factors
- Coordination and Delivery
- Facilitated collaboration between technical specialists and project stakeholders
- Ensured assessment outputs remained responsive to design development
- Ongoing Advisory
- Provided continued advice during design refinement and construction
- Supported updates to the assessment as the project scope evolved
EPS maintained a consistent advisory role, ensuring environmental considerations remained integrated as the project progressed from assessment into delivery.
Impact
The project established a clear and adaptable environmental approval framework for infrastructure delivery within the precinct.
- Enabled approval of infrastructure works aligned with broader redevelopment objectives
- Supported informed decision-making through coordinated and transparent assessment
- Reduced delivery risk by maintaining alignment between assessment and evolving design
Image source: HCCDC, https://www.hccdc.nsw.gov.au/projects/mount-penang-parklands
