Sydney Water and council sign MOU

Parramatta City Council and Sydney Water have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to work together on initiatives such as improving the water quality of Parramatta River and planning future water needs.

Through the new partnership agreement, council and Sydney Water will also investigate the potential to open up Sydney Water-owned land for community use.

Lord Mayor of Parramatta, John Chedid, said the MOU would align the goals of both organisations and provide a wide range of community benefits.

“There are many advantages of working with Sydney Water and by improving the water quality of Parramatta River, we plan to encourage boating and other recreational activities,” he said.

“Opening Sydney Water’s land assets for community use could also allow new recreational activities and improve public domain areas.”

Managing director of Sydney Water, Kevin Young, said: “This agreement will provide a better outcome for Parramatta City Council rate payers who are also Sydney Waters’ customers. It is testimony to the success working collaboratively can generate.

“We are pleased to be partnering with the Council to improve the local environment, to effectively prepare for growth in the area and to generally improve the liveability of Parramatta now and into the future,” said Mr Young.

City supports project to boost investment

Parramatta City Council has entered into a partnership to evaluate the economic case for increased investment in cultural institutions and events in Western Sydney

The other partners are Liverpool City Council, Penrith City Council, Sydney Business Chamber and Sydney Business Connect.

The Western Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC) will be asked to participate..

The project will consider the regional context, regional events and facilities, and evaluate of regional opportunities including identifying factors for success that should be considered in making investment decisions.

Parramatta City Council will allocate up to $20,000 towards the cost of the project, given the relevance of this research to council’s plans for development of Riverside Theatres and establishment of a resident theatre company.

Other reasons for the support include strategic objectives requiring increased investment in both the arts and events.

$500 million apartment complex proposed

Parramatta property developer, Dyldam, expects to lodge soon a DA with Parramatta City Council for a $500 million-plus apartment complex in the Parramatta CBD.

Landmark East, a company associated with Dyldam, purchased the 1.25-hectare site, at 142-154 Macquarie Street, in an off-market deal estimated to be worth $45 million, in April, according to The Australian.

The site, formerly the head office of News Corp’s Cumberland Press, could be converted for up to 1000 residential units.

Under the plans, the building would be demolished for the construction of towers up to 50 storeys, subject to council approval.

Dyldam chief operating officer, Fayad Fayad, said construction of the complex could start in the first half of 2016 and take four years to build.

Enterprise House sold for $29 million

Raffles Assets Australia has purchased the six-storey Enterprise House, office building, in the Parramatta CBD, for $29 million

The company, a subsidiary of Singapore-based Raffles Education Corporation, has entered into a contract for the sale of land to acquire the land and building located at 1-3 Fitzwilliam Street, opposite the Parramatta train station.

The property will primarily be developed as a permanent campus for the company’s

college in Sydney, Raffles College of Design and Commerce, the company said in a.

statement to the ASX.

The 2049-square-metre has a net lettable area of 9782 square metres, with 103 parking lots.

Council entices small businesses to the city

Parramatta City Council is taking to the streets to encourage businesses from across Sydney to move to Parramatta.

Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr John Chedid said council staff are approaching businesses in areas such as the Sydney CBD, Surry Hills and the Inner West with a clear message: “Parramatta is open for business.”

The initiative is part of Activate! Parramatta, a new program offering grants up to $10,000 for budding entrepreneurs or businesses to set up in Parramatta and contribute to the diversity and vibrancy of the city.

“There are great opportunities in Parramatta to expand your business,” Cr Chedid said

“Activate! Parramatta is about promoting the value of our City as a destination for business and creating opportunities for innovative ventures.

“I encourage people to have a good look at Parramatta as a location.

“We are the centre of Sydney, our economy and our population are growing by the day. The State Government’s recent budget announcements on improved infrastructure and jobs for Parramatta show this is a city on the move.”

“Businesses already signed up as part of Activate! Parramatta include Bourke St Bakery, which is set to be established by the end of 2014, adding to Parramatta’s reputation as one of Sydney’s hottest food destinations.

“Parramatta also recently welcomed 3D Printing, which opened in Darcy Street, bringing their technology to other businesses in the City.

“If you think you’ve got an idea that can work in Parramatta, get in touch,” Cr Chedid said.

“You can read about the program on our website and download an Expression of Interest form. Or you can look out for our staff as they make their way around the city.

“Parramatta wants your business!”

Parramatta Square selected as UWS preferred site

Parramatta Square has been selected by the University of Western Sydney as its preferred site to deliver the University's new flagship campus tower in the heart of Parramatta's central business district.

The selected site, 169 Macquarie Street, is part of one of Australia's biggest urban renewal projects and will turn Parramatta into a true university city.

UWS has signed a heads of agreement with Leighton Properties Pty Ltd to deliver the project. Leighton Properties has signed an option agreement to acquire the 4,132sqm site at 169 Macquarie Street from Parramatta City Council.

The proposed new campus, to be built and owned by Leighton Properties, will cover 26,000 square metres over 14 storeys, and will be home to over 10,000 students.

Lord Mayor Cr John Chedid said he was delighted UWS had selected the first stage of the $2 billion Parramatta Square project – known as '1PSQ' or 'One Parramatta Square' – as the preferred site to build the new CBD campus.

Cr Chedid said Council would sell the site to Leighton, which will provide innovative public domain facilities for community use.

"I congratulate UWS and Vice-Chancellor Professor Barney Glover on this visionary move that will further boost Parramatta's reputation as a smart city based on centres of excellence in research, education and technology," Cr Chedid said.

"We know great universities strengthen great cities – and this is a major milestone in our vision for Parramatta Square, helping make Parramatta a true city of the 21^st Century.

"As the first major tenant in Parramatta Square, UWS will help to boost private sector interest in future stages of the project."

Managing Director of Leighton Properties, Mr Mark Gray, said it is an exciting time for Leighton Properties, as 1PSQ is the catalyst to the Parramatta Square master plan and will make an iconic contribution to the Parramatta central business district.

UWS Vice-Chancellor, Professor Barney Glover, says Leighton Properties was selected as the preferred development partner based on the strength of the building's design, flexibility and prominence.

"The University's plan to develop a high-rise campus is an important milestone in UWS's history," said Professor Glover. "We look forward to working with both Leighton Properties and Parramatta City Council to progress the final details for presentation to the UWS Board of Trustees at the end of August for its final consideration and approval."

Students will benefit from excellent public transport links including the planned Western Sydney Light Rail Network. The building itself will blend innovative state of the art technology with the latest collaborative learning spaces for teaching. Construction work is expected to begin in early 2015 and be completed for the first university semester in 2017.

Parramatta's campaign to attract business

Parramatta City Council is taking to the streets to encourage businesses from across Sydney to move to Parramatta.

Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr John Chedid said Council staff are approaching businesses in areas such as the Sydney CBD, Surry Hills and the Inner West with a clear message: “Parramatta is open for business.”

The initiative is part of Activate! Parramatta, a new program offering grants up to $10,000 for budding entrepreneurs or businesses to set up in Parramatta and contribute to the diversity and vibrancy of the City.

“There are great opportunities in Parramatta to expand your business,” Cr Chedid said

“Activate! Parramatta is about promoting the value of our City as a destination for business and creating opportunities for innovative ventures.

“I encourage people to have a good look at Parramatta as a location.

“We are the centre of Sydney, our economy and our population are growing by the day. The State Government’s recent budget announcements on improved infrastructure and jobs for Parramatta show this is a city on the move.”

“Businesses already signed up as part of Activate! Parramatta include Bourke St Bakery, which is set to be established by the end of 2014, adding to Parramatta’s reputation as one of Sydney’s hottest food destinations.

“Parramatta also recently welcomed 3D Printing, which opened in Darcy Street, bringing their technology to other businesses in the City.

“If you think you’ve got an idea that can work in Parramatta, get in touch,” Cr Chedid said.

“You can read about the program on our website and download an Expression of Interest form. Or you can look out for our staff as they make their way around the city.

“Parramatta wants your business!”

Plans to build on $371.6m tourism sales

Parramatta wants to build on the $371.6 million in sales in the city’s hospitality and tourism sectors by setting up a committee and appointing a tourism officer to entice more domestic and international visitors up the river to Parramatta.

An economic development tourism committee of key stakeholders will be charged with improving the growth of visitor numbers, encouraging them to stay longer in the city and to spend more.in its restaurants, cafes and retail outlets.

“We need to invest more resources into developing our tourism product to put us in a better position to capitalise on the economic benefits tourism brings,” Parramatta Lord Mayor, John Chedid, said

The current situation is that council’s investment in tourism growth, to date, had been “modest,” he said.

The challenge the committee faces is to transform Parramatta, which is regarded as a service centre to a destination projecting a “vibe and buzz”.

Observers of the initiatives to improve, to-date, the city’s razzmatazz – Parramattazz, to coin a word – and the public domain amenity would be hard-pressed to criticise council’s efforts to make the city a place to visit.

Stakeholders to assist in the formation of the committee and its plans include the National Trust, Parramatta Park Trust, Destination NSW, Sydney Ferries, Parramatta Chamber of Commerce, the Australian Turf Club and local hotel and restaurant representatives.

The highest priorities are the development of new and existing tourism product and experiences, building strategic partnerships, providing quality infrastructure and amenity and delivering smart, effective communication and marketing, Clr Chedid said

“It is critical now that we provide a greater focus on these initiatives so the city can achieve its full potential and be a place where people want to live, work and play,” he said.

Council will consider funding a tourism product development officer and allocating sufficient resources when finalising its corporate plan and budget for 2014/15.

President of the Parramatta Chamber of Commerce, Roger Byrne, said the city has been built on the back of commerce and enterprise and as such the historical elements take a back seat to the commercial focus of the city.

“A unique selling proposition and clear and concise tourism marketing and infrastructure plan needs to be in place if this committee is able to make a difference,” he said.

An indication of the foundation on which the city could leverage more domestic and international visitors is the contribution of $371.6 million in sales which the hospitality and tourism sectors made to the local economy in 2011/12, according to the National Institute of Economic and Industry Research.

Japanese expertise sought on two major projects

The expertise of Japanese firms will be sought by Parramatta City Council regarding opportunities associated with council’s multi-million Parramatta Square and Parramatta Light Rail projects.

This comes about following the visit to Japan by Professor Edward Blakely, Honorary Professor of Urban Policy, at the US Studies Centre, University of Sydney. 

Arrangements were made for Professor Blakely to meet with Japanese transportation and investment firms to discuss the potential for building, operating and financing the light rail project and examine projects similar to the design and development of Parramatta Square, a mix of high-rise office and residential accommodation, adjacent to train station.

“Marubeni Corporation and Mitsubishi have the desire, expertise and financing capability to construct and manage a light rail like that envisaged for Parramatta and Western Sydney,” Professor Blakely said.

He said the company, the lead firm on the Gold Coast Light Rail, was prepared to offer advice on how council should proceed in completing a business case for light rail.

The Toranomon Hills Complex, in Central Tokyo was similar to the Parramatta Square, he said.

Council resolved to further investigate the Toronomo Hills project with a view to enhance the $1.6 billion Parramatta Square project and iiaise with Marubeni and Mitsubishi and other interested companies to gauge interest in their potential involvement in the light rail project.

Professor Blakely said a conclusion of his attendance at an Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) meeting was that Parramatta needed to accelerate its opportunities to connect the universities of Western Sydney and New England, and other organisations, as essential to improving local economic performance.

“They represent world best practice in creating urban areas for the future,” he said..

Professor Blakely, acting in the capacity as advisor to Lord Mayor, John Chedid, attended an urban economic development symposium at the invitation of the OECD.

UWS proposes 20,000sqm space in the CBD

The development of a 20,000-square-metre, multi-storey in the Parramatta CBD is a part of the University of Western Sydney’s regional development strategy.

The UWS Board of Trustees in giving an in-principle agreement expected the facility to be ready for teaching in 2017.

UWS vice-chancellor, Professor Barney Glover, said it would it contribute to the university’s plans to significantly increase its international student population, expand its course offerings at Parramatta, and provide more flexible learning opportunities for students. 

“With our existing Parramatta campus almost at capacity, we plan to significantly expand our presence in the CBD where we can be co-located with business and industry, and increase our connection to the social, economic and civic life of Parramatta and Greater Western Sydney,” he said.

Several development sites within the Parramatta and a final decision was expected on the exact location by June 2014, he said.

Earlier this year, UWS opened a campus, over four levels, in an office building in the Parramatta CBD for its post-graduate students. 

Architects chosen for $800 million project

The Heartland Group has chosen the architects for its $800 million project which includes three residential towers between 30-40 storeys, in the Parramatta CBD.

Allen Jack+Cottier (AJ+C), Turner and Associates, and Oculus are the winning designers for three sites following a design competition by the group.

AJ+C won the role of co-ordinating architect of the entire $800 million project, as well as the architect for the largerof the three sites on the corner of Church Street and the Great Western Highway.

Turner and Associates have been chosen as the architect for the second building, and Occulus, as the landscape architect for the park, on the third site, together with the extensive public domain components.

Architecture & Design online magazine said the $800 million project includes three residential towers between 30-40 storeys with retail/commercial uses on the lower levels, two 10-storey commercial buildings, approximately 3000 square metres of public open space, a 2000-square-metre public park, basement supermarket and parking for approximately 1200 cars.  

The planned pedestrian plaza will run through the centre of the three sites and will link the project's new social spaces and opportunities for cafes and outdoor dining

“This is the first cab off the rank for the planned revitalisation of the ‘Auto Alley’ end of Parramatta’s Church St,” said Michael Heenan, Principal and CEO of Allen Jack+Cottier.

“It will set a new civic benchmark and form the southern gateway to Parramatta CBD.”

trade and investment committee proposed

Parramatta City Council proposes to launch a trade and investment committee to respond to the growing interest in investing in the city.

“This financial year, we have received development applications worth well over $1.6 billion, double the amount for the same period last year,” Lord Mayor, John Chedid, said.

Clr Chedid was speaking to approximately 200 business men and women at the Parramatta Chamber of Commerce’s annual State of the City Address, at the Novotel Hotel.  

“We have 33 major commercial and residential developments being built in our city and in coming years, there will be $8 billion of commercial and residential development built,” he said

“We have launched a new service to support and fast-track developments by assigning development case-workers to smooth the process.

He said 5000 new apartments had been approved in Parramatta in recent years,

Clr Chedid said Parramatta would soon overtake Adelaide as Australia’s fifth biggest CBD..

He said council had “fielded” expressions of interest for more than 100,000 square metres of commercial property space within council’s $1.6 billion Parramatta Square project.      

UWS seeks CBD presence

The development of a 20,000-square-metre, multi-storey in the Parramatta CBD is a part of the University of Western Sydney ’s regional development strategy.

The UWS Board of Trustees in giving an in-principle agreement expected the facility to be ready for teaching in 2017.

UWS vice-chancellor, Professor Barney Glover, said it would it contribute to the university’s plans to significantly increase its international student population, expand its course offerings at Parramatta, and provide more flexible learning opportunities for students. 

“With our existing Parramatta campus almost at capacity, we plan to significantly expand our presence in the CBD where we can be co-located with business and industry, and increase our connection to the social, economic and civic life of Parramatta and Greater Western Sydney,” he said.

Several development sites within the Parramatta and a final decision was expected on the exact location by June 2014, he said.

Earlier this year, UWS opened a campus, over four levels, in an office building in the Parramatta CBD for its post-graduate students. 

$800 million residential project

The Heartland Group has chosen the architects for its $800 million project which includes three residential towers between 30-40 storeys, in the Parramatta CBD.

Allen Jack+Cottier (AJ+C), Turner and Associates, and Oculus are the winning designers for three sites following a design competition by the group.

AJ+C won the role of co-ordinating architect of the entire $800 million project, as well as the architect for the largerof the three sites on the corner of Church Street and the Great Western Highway.

Turner and Associates have been chosen as the architect for the second building, and Occulus, as the landscape architect for the park, on the third site, together with the extensive public domain components.

Architecture & Design online magazine said the $800 million project includes three residential towers between 30-40 storeys with retail/commercial uses on the lower levels, two 10-storey commercial buildings, approximately 3000 square metres of public open space, a 2000-square-metre public park, basement supermarket and parking for approximately 1200 cars.  

The planned pedestrian plaza will run through the centre of the three sites and will link the project's new social spaces and opportunities for cafes and outdoor dining

“This is the first cab off the rank for the planned revitalisation of the ‘Auto Alley’ end of Parramatta’s Church St,” said Michael Heenan, Principal and CEO of Allen Jack+Cottier.

“It will set a new civic benchmark and form the southern gateway to Parramatta CBD.”

Chinese investors in the market

The first stage of 124 apartments in the $550 million Promenade project, on the Parramatta River, east of the Parramatta CBD. sold out in two days to mainly Chinese investors.

Construction of the first stage is expected to commence in June, and Starryland, the Australia subsidiary of the Chinese developer, Fuxing Hulyu expects construction to commence in June.

Promenade, designed by architect William Smart, will comprise 774 high-end apartments in 11 towers, ranging from two to 12 storeys,

Promenade will also allocate 1.2-hectares to landscaped foreshore open space, a pedestrian bridge across the river, and an extensive walking and cycling network.

“We selected Parramatta because it is already a cosmopolitan centre with the potential to become even better. It has all the facilities of a modern city and is well served by public transport and motorways,”” said Mr Hao Liu, the director, of Starryland Australia.

Promoter of public image wanted

The establishment and maintenance of an outstanding public image that is able to developing ongoing liaison with key opinion leaders will be a key success factor for Parramatta City Council’s director, marketing & identity.

This position is one of three newly created positions in a restructuring of council’s organisation; the others being chief financial officer and chief operating officer.

“T he marketing director will be responsible for the development, implementation of marketing and major event strategies that are designed to promote and sustain council’s brand and identity to ensure council’s success,” council said.

“This will include council’s reputation as a city that can attract investment and commercial activity, and as a place with cultural interest as an integral element of the Sydney Metropolitan Strategy.”