Epping Planners Rezone Former Industrial Land for Mixed Housing

Epping City Council lodged a rezoning application on June 28 for 18 hectares of land in the Westwood precinct, shifting the area from industrial to medium-density residential and commercial use.

The move arrives as Epping records its fastest population growth in eight years, with new households forming at a rate that outpaces current housing supply by nearly 1,200 units annually. City documents cite rising construction costs and limited greenfield sites as reasons for accelerating the Westwood plan now rather than waiting for the next five-year review cycle.

The affected parcels sit between Westwood Industrial Estate and Epping River Park, directly across from the Epping Community Centre on Maple Drive. Nearby, the Epping Chamber of Commerce has tracked a 14 percent vacancy rate in older warehouse buildings along Oakwood Avenue since 2024, a figure that helped justify the shift to housing.

Numbers behind the proposal

Under the draft controls, sites could accommodate buildings up to eight storeys, with a target of 1,050 new dwellings and 35,000 square metres of ground-floor retail. Median sale prices in adjacent streets reached $387,000 last quarter, according to Epping property records, and the rezoning study projects a 22 percent lift in land values within three years if approvals proceed on schedule.

Traffic modelling prepared for the council shows an expected 4,200 additional daily vehicle movements on Maple Drive, with upgrades proposed at the intersection of Oakwood Avenue and the park entrance to maintain current peak-hour delays.

Next steps for residents

A 60-day public exhibition period opens July 15 at the Epping City Hall planning counter and online portal. Property owners within 400 metres of the rezoning boundary can lodge submissions until September 12, after which the council will report back to the planning committee in October.

Anyone seeking to understand how the changes could affect their block can book a 15-minute slot with the strategic planning team by calling the council’s main line or visiting the Westwood site office on Thursdays between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

This article is general information only and is not personal financial or investment advice. Consider your own circumstances and seek licensed professional advice before making financial decisions.