Parramatta. Yes, but, on Civic Place

The New South Wales Government is changing compulsory land acquisition laws in response to a High Court decision, which jeopardised the $1.4 billion Civic Place redevelopment. The High Court last month ruled in favour of two property owners, in Darcy Street, who opposed the compulsory acquisition of their land by Parramatta City Council. Deputy Premier, Carmel Tebbutt, said the laws would not be retrospective. "If they want to acquire the land that they have been interested in they would need to now re-start the acquisition process," she said.

Camden. Agents appointed for project

Private developer, Dart West, which has purchased land in the 40-hectare mixed-use centre called Central Hills Business Park, has appointed Colliers International as retail and industrial consultants and leasing/sales agents for Gregory Hills, located on Camden Valley Way, between Campbelltown and Camden. It is expected to comprise up to 24,400 residential dwellings, commercial business space, bulky goods retail, entertainment/hospitality and high-tech and general industrial space. The projected population growth of Sydney’s South West Growth Centre is estimated to reach 300,000 in the next 25 years

Homebush Bay. $190 miilion deal sealed

Japan’s largest housing developer, Sekisui House, has finalised two deals with property developer, Payce Consolidated,, under which Sekisui will take a 75 per cent share in $190 million of landholding in Sydney and Brisbane. The Sydney deal involves the development of an 8.3-hectare, 1900-apartment site with the existing Waterfront community at Homebush Bay, with an end value of $135 million, according to The Australian Financial Review.

Bankstown. Projects worth $13.2 million

A total of $13.2 million in projects, lodged or approved, have been approved at Bankstown Airport, in the Dec 08-April 09 period. Projects lodged included an education facility worth $7.4 million. A supermarket and retail outlets valued at $3 million was approved.

Region. WSROC welcomes budget funds

President, Clr Alison McLaren, of the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC) has welcomed budget funds of $96.4 million to redevelop the Nepean Hospital and the $17.6 million allocation to build a Clinical School, at the University of Western Sydney, as part of the School of Medicine, at Blacktown Hospital, plus other funding for the region, but has expressed disappointment at the Federal Government’s failure to address key infrastructure issues in Western Sydney, one of the fastest growing urban areas in Australia.

Parramatta. Land deal to go ahead

The State Government will unveil today legislation that Parramatta City Council says will allow it to proceed with the $1.6 billion Civic Place development which was blocked by the High Court last month, The Sydney Morning Herald reported. Council wanted to compulsorly acquire several properties for the project.

Parramatta. 'Successfully weathering storm'

Parramatta City Council said it was successfully weathering the financial storm with a break-even draft management plan, with a budget which commits $127 million to services with a further $40.2 million dedicated to infrastructure projects. Council said it was determined to progress the Civic Place development, with $1.2 million allocated for the cost in project management to oversee the design and stakeholder consultation phase. The draft plan will be on public exhibition from May 14 to 11 June 11.