Grocon and the Parramatta City Council’s $1.14 billion Civic Place development has received the green light after meeting the Public Private Partnership guidelines set by the Department of Local Government.
Parramatta City Lord Mayor Cr David Borger said this is fantastic news for Parramatta and Grocon.
“Our Civic Place development meets the new rigorous guidelines, and justifies the years of careful planning and negotiating Council undertook as part of the process.
“Now we are just one month away from the final sign off with Grocon and closer to all the benefits Civic Place will bring, including the 8,800 extra jobs to Parramatta, magnificent new community facilities, inspirational architectural diversity and environmental sustainability,” he added.
Grocon’s chief executive officer Daniel Grollo also welcomed the PPP approval.
“Grocon is looking forward to creating a new civic heart for Parramatta, a place where community facilities, business, retail, culture and public spaces all converge,” he added.
The Director General of the Department of Local Government advised Council in writing that the Local Government Project Review Committee has assessed the development as complying with the ‘Guidelines on the Procedures and Processes to be followed by Local Government in Public-Private Partnerships’, subject to standard conditions being met.
State Member for Parramatta Tanya Gadiel said that Civic Place was an exciting development for the City.
"I want to congratulate Parramatta City Council for satisfying the stringent requirements necessary for such a project. It’s a credit to all involved," she said.
Cr Borger said the Civic Place development is the biggest CBD urban revitalisation project in NSW in this decade and features a mix of different uses including retail, commercial, residential, community, council, civic and entertainment.
“Great cities need to be creative places. Parramatta needs to be a good place to work but also to live, night and day. Central to our Civic Place development is a revitalised library, gallery and new media space.
“Once Civic Place is completed, young people in Western Sydney will finally be able to find all the services and attractions they need right here and the talent drain of creative young people leaving Western Sydney in droves for the bright lights and urban villages of Sydney will end,” he added.
Buildings in Civic Place will set new environmental standards by adopting leading environmentally sustainable principles including grey water recycling, 4.5 star ABGR ratings and zero stormwater run-off throughout the site.
Construction is expected to begin late next year and it is anticipated that the whole project will be completed by 2014.
By Adam Parsons
