What is Civic Place redevelopment?

Civic Place redevelopment will see the conversion of 3 hectare inner city block of Council-owned and private properties into a stylish $1.4 billion gateway for the City. Ultimately Civic Place will deliver a City Centre which is a more attractive, dynamic and creative place in which to live and work. At its heart will be a unified new library, heritage centre and public art gallery, providing a friendly, interactive gateway to the other Council services located adjacent to the new Parramatta Transport Interchange. Piazza-style public spaces, an independent cinema, sophisticated shopping, restaurants and entertainment will all help create a social hub, which operates night and day.

How will Civic place benefit Parramatta?

Parramatta has benefited from considerable public investment and relocation of government functions. The recent growth in private investment will be significantly accelerated by Civic Place, bringing significant public benefit, new jobs, wealth and energy to our City and our suburbs. Civic Place will put Old Parramatta on the map as well as introducing a shining New Parramatta of the 21st Century as it represents the largest urban revitalisation project undertaken in NSW this decade.

How will the project be delivered?

Council’s decision to redevelop the Civic Place site using a Public Private Partnership (PPP) ensures that private sector development skills are brought to the project reducing risk for the ratepayers of Parramatta. Cranes will rise on the skyline as staged construction work commences. We’ll be amidst “bricks and mortar” in the CBD for some years, but our development partner Grocon (Civic Place) Pty Ltd (Grocon) will work with Council to ensure that disruptions to traffic, city access and day-to-day life are kept to a minimum.

What are the projects Milestones?

The first major milestone was the adoption of the Civic Place Masterplan by Council and the State Government in 2003. This informed the Parramatta City Centre LEP 2007, which is now the most powerful tool shaping our City. This statutory planning framework increases allowable development in the City to provide for anticipated job and housing growth and mandates high quality design for both office and residential buildings.
In 2006, Council signed a Civic Place development partner, Grocon. Council won the right to compulsory acquire private properties in Darcy and Church Street at the NSW Court of Appeal in June 2008. Some property owners sought an appeal to the High Court. The hearing was heard in November 2008. Despite an unfavourable High Court decision in April 2009, Council remains committed to the Civic Place redevelopment and its many inherent public benefits. Council notes the recent amendment to the Land Acquisitions (Just Terms Compensation) Act and welcomes any changes that clarify the intentions of the Act. Council is continuing direct negotiations with land owners to purchase the properties before seeking to take any action under the new legislation.
 
The next stage of planning has commenced. A development plan for the site is being prepared. Civic and community buildings will be completed first and the remainder of the construction delivered in later stages.