Civic Place Passes Another Gateway

21 March 2005

Parramatta City Council last week decided to proceed with two parties into the next stage of selection of development partner.

Parramatta's billion dollar Civic Place redevelopment project has passed through another gateway decision.

The Parramatta Civic Place urban renewal involves the redevelopment of a three hectare city block whilst showcasing important Australian heritage. It will include integration of heritage buildings and Environmentally Sustainable Development initiatives across the site.

Council has invited Grocon and Multiplex into the Proposal Negotiation period and will be issuing the Request for Tender documents. Those Request for Tender documents will be issued in April.

It is anticipated the Request for Tender process will take three months, with negotiations scheduled to be completed in August.

Council accepted a recommendation from its Civic Place Management Committee that a tender to the two parties best satisfies Council objectives, complies with the intent of the Request for Proposals process, and optimises the best commercial return for the residents of Parramatta.

Parramatta's public transport interchange - now well under way - and Civic Place represent major urban renewal projects centred on the railway station. Civic Place will result in 4800 long term jobs and about 6000 indirect and construction jobs, giving the local economy an immediate boost.

The State Government-approved Master Plan proposes:

• 65,000m² commercial office space

• 35,000m² new retail space planned to enhance the shopping experience available within Parramatta CBD and fill gaps identified in the current retail mix

• 6000m² of community space, including a new central library, council offices and other community facilities

• up to 800 residential dwellings

Contact: Shehana Teixeira

Phone: 98065070