Baker Crescent Shops & McBurney Reserve Revitalisation Project
Consultation has concluded.
Project Background
Baker Crescent Shops is one of seven neighbourhood centres in The Hills Shire, comprising five commercial lots that provide a variety of goods and services to the community. Adjacent to Baker Crescent Shops is McBurney Reserve, a local park featuring mature canopy cover, a small playground and park benches.
A map showing the general location of the project is provided below:
Through the NSW Government’s Western Sydney Infrastructure Grants (WSIG) Program, formerly ‘WestInvest’, Council has secured funding to revitalise Baker Crescent Shops and McBurney Reserve in Baulkham Hills. The upgrades aim to improve public domain functionality, renew community facilities, enhance accessibility, and enrich the overall user experience.
As part of the approved works, the project proposes:
Expanded public domain fronting Baker Crescent Shops
Redesigned car park layout to accommodate the extended public domain
Upgraded playground facilities
Shade trees and planting adjoining the street and laneway
New pedestrian pathways to improve access across the site and to the Cross Street bus stop
Street furniture such as park benches and picnic shelters
Public art, such as a mural installation
Additional fixtures, such as bike racks, bins and signage.
Landscape works
Council has engaged a consultant team to prepare two (2) concept design schemes in response to the approved scope of works. Each scheme explores a different approach to delivering the functional requirements outlined in the funding deed and project brief. This process has allowed Council to consider how variation in materials, asset size and asset quantity can influence both functionality and place-making outcomes. The full concept design packs are available for download in the ‘Key Documents’ section.
Review of on-street parking
As part of efforts to create a more welcoming, accessible and pedestrian-friendly public domain along Baker Crescent and Cross Street, it is proposed that some existing on-street parking bays be removed to allow for wider footpaths, greenery, street furniture, and outdoor dining.
Council’s appointed consultants have reviewed current car parking provisions, comparing the number of formalised, line‑marked bays adjacent to the centre with other centres of a similar scale, tenancy mix, and hierarchy. Their assessment, detailed in the Options 1 and 2 design reports, confirmed that Baker Crescent Shops has an above-average supply of on-street parking, with 4.2 spaces available per shop. By comparison, centres within the Blacktown and Parramatta LGAs provide as few as 1.5 to 2 spaces per shop. This analysis indicates that modest reductions to the parking along Baker Crescent can support the delivery of meaningful public domain improvements without compromising overall accessibility for patrons.
Design Option 1
Option 1 proposes a modified car park layout that preserves most of the existing 90-degree parking directly in front of the shops along Baker Crescent. On-street parking on the opposite side of the shops remains unchanged.
Option 1 car park layout merits:
Extension of the public domain creates more vibrant and usable area for pedestrians and shop patrons, encouraging social interaction and gathering.
Larger outdoor dining area supports local businesses by potentially increasing dwell time and local spending.
Targeted time limits can promote efficient turnover, ensuring parking remains accessible for shoppers despite reduced capacity.
Improved safety measures provide clear separation between new pedestrian zones and the parking area.
Cost effective solution (no change to existing road carriageway).
Retains 8.4m wide two-way carriageway.
Fewer carbon emissions as less construction is required to achieve design.
Better visibility of the shopfronts with fewer parked cars obstructing views.
Option 1 car park layout considerations:
Parking capacity along Baker Crescent is reduced by 5 spaces.
Public domain area is more constrained compared to other potential layouts.
Parking on both sides of Baker Crescent (perpendicular to the shops and parallel with the residential properties opposite) may present safety challenges for pedestrian circulation.
Design Option 2
Option 2 proposes an extension of the current public domain but also retains the existing 8.4-metre two-way carriageway. To facilitate this expansion, parking directly in front of the shops is reconfigured from 90-degree to parallel bays, while existing parking along Cross Street and other sections of Baker Crescent remains unchanged.
Option 2 car park layout merits:
Extension of the public domain creates a more vibrant and usable area for pedestrians and visitors, encouraging social interaction and gathering.
Improved streetscape aesthetics and high-quality street furniture contribute to a more attractive and inviting environment.
Widened public spaces support local businesses by attracting more visitors to the shops, potentially increasing dwell time and local spending, with improved outdoor dining opportunities.
Targeted time limits can promote efficient turnover, ensuring parking remains accessible for shoppers despite reduced capacity.
Improved safety measures provide clear separation between pedestrian zones and the parking area.
Retains existing 8.4m wide two-way carriageway.
Greatly improved visibility of shopfronts with minimal car interference compared to Option 1.
Option 2 car park layout considerations:
Replacement of 90-degree parking with parallel parking reduces capacity by 9 spaces directly in front of shops.
Parking on both sides of Baker Crescent may present safety challenges for pedestrian circulation.
Why we need your feedback
Not all elements of the concept designs can be delivered within the available project budget. Council is seeking input from business owners, patrons and visitors to help prioritise which features and improvements are most important to the community.
Your feedback will help Council understand:
The level of support for the proposed upgrades
The preferred extent, treatment and positioning of different assets (such as playground equipment, landscaping, furniture and public art)
How the available budget should be invested across the project site
Community views on car parking provision and layout, informed by consultant analysis comparing Baker Crescent Shops to other neighbourhood centres.
Have your say
Completing the online survey will ensure your views guide the revised concept design before the project progresses to detailed design documentation.
