Parramatta City Council has approved development applications to demolish its Darcy Street Council offices and the Civic Place Library building in preparation for the next stages of the $2 billion Parramatta Square urban renewal project.

 

The approval of the applications was based on a report and assessment by independent planning consultants and will allow Council to provide developers with vacant possession of the two sites.

 

The council offices, library and other council-owned property along Darcy Street will eventually make way for high-end commercial office space and the Aspire residential tower.

 

Lord Mayor of Parramatta Cr Scott Lloyd says demolition of the Council offices and library will be carried out by the preferred developers which are expected to be selected mid-2015.

 

“Council’s preparation and approval of the DAs will remove approximately six months from the critical path of the Parramatta Square development projects,” Cr Lloyd said.

 

“Council has made the decision to have Stage 2 and Stages 5&6 of Parramatta Square ‘shovel ready’ as soon as possible, which will allow us to attract major tenants and businesses.

 

“We have already started the demolition of the old Post Office building and other demolition DAs are currently under review by the independent assessor.”

 

Parramatta Square is set to transform Parramatta’s core into a vibrant mixed-use hub, accommodating a substantial new public domain with more than 240,000sqm of mixed-use development.

 

Located in the heart of the CBD, the three hectare site is set to reinforce Parramatta’s position as Sydney’s dual CBD.

 

Construction work has begun on Stage One of the project - a $220.5 million commercial tower which will accommodate a new multi-level campus for the University of Western Sydney.

 

Cr Lloyd said lease agreements had now been finalised for premises to house the Parramatta City Library and Council administration offices until new facilities are built at Parramatta Square.

 

The library’s temporary home will be an office building at 1-3 Fitzwilliam Street where it will occupy part of the ground floor, the first floor and part of the second floor.

Staff and services from 30 Darcy Street and Connection Arcade will be relocated over the ground floor and six floors of office space at 126 Church Street.

 

“Both the Library and Council offices will continue to be conveniently located in the heart of the CBD to ensure ratepayers and other customers continue to have ready access to the library and front-of-counter Council services,” Cr Lloyd said.