Parramatta. Three down four to go

Parramatta City Council has agreed to purchase properties at 20-22, 24 and 25 Darcy Street for the 3-hectare, $1.4 billion Civic Place redevelopment project – four properties remain to be purchased. In preparation for the commencement of stage one, on a site bounded by Smith Street and Macquarie Street, the 100-space Smith Street car park will close mid June. Stage one will contain new council offices, a range of first-class community facilities including a new state-of-the-art library and new public space. “While I have to stress that there is still a lot to do before we can start work, we hope that a development application for this part of the site will be lodged this year, with the new facilities delivered in 2013,” Lord Mayor Paul Garrard said.