Community invited to “Have Your Say” on proposed Council land sale

Published on 27 January 2021

Blacktown City Council is inviting residents and business owners to have their say on a proposed sale of Council-owned land in Blacktown’s city centre.

The market-price sale of the large parcel of land will pave the way for the development of the previously announced Blacktown Brain and Spinal Institute.

The Blacktown Brain and Spinal Institute (BBSI) is headed by renowned neurosurgeon Professor Charlie Teo AM.

The sale will provide funding for the temporary relocation of some Council administrative staff to ensure the continued delivery of services to residents and local businesses. It will also enable the eventual planned move to new purpose-built administration offices in the CBD, and facilities for a new Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre.

Blacktown City’s population is predicted to top 550,000 by 2036 and Council has recognised that new facilities are needed to ensure staff can properly service a fast-growing, modern city in the decades ahead.

Blacktown City Mayor Tony Bleasdale OAM said; “This will be a major leap forward in the redevelopment of the Blacktown city centre.

“The Blacktown Brain and Spinal Institute will bring hundreds of millions of dollars investment into our City and at the same time, Council will be able to develop a landmark Administration and Cultural centre.”

The BBSI will be a world leader in medical research, practice, treatment and recovery, catering for surgeons, patients and their families from Australia and overseas.

The development is planned to include the medical research institute (with a university partner), a private hospital, a medi-hotel, retail space, and residential apartments.

“This is a very exciting project. BBSI would be one of the most significant investments ever in Blacktown City, with an estimated total construction value of $800 million,” Mayor Bleasdale said.

“We believe the project will attract hundreds of millions of dollars of capital investment, hundreds of long-term, highly skilled and support jobs, and millions of dollars of medical research, as well as contribute greatly to the rejuvenation of the Blacktown city centre.

“It will also provide facilities to support international medi-tourism which in turn has the potential to generate income from overseas, assisting the NSW economy,” Mayor Bleasdale said.

The BBSI would be located at the site of Council’s Administration Centre on Flushcombe Road, including the former WSROC building and surrounding car park, as well as the building currently housing the Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre and part of the adjacent Blacktown Kmart carpark.

There is a commitment to retain these public parking spaces in the proposed development.

Proceeds from the land sale will ensure redevelopment of the Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre.

“Council is committed to retaining the Leo Kelly Arts Centre name in the form of a new arts and cultural space of equivalent, or greater, size and utility to the current facility,” Mayor Bleasdale said.

 “Council is proud of its record in the arts sector in Western Sydney, and will continue to play a leading role.

“The late Mayor Leo Kelly was a pioneer in local government sponsorship and involvement in the arts, and his name will always be commemorated and associated physically in Blacktown City Council’s continuing support for the creative sector.

“Blacktown Arts is a recognised leader in the development of contemporary arts in Australia through its award-winning curated program of exhibitions, performances, workshops, residencies, and events.

“Blacktown Arts works hard to reflect our City’s great cultural diversity and places Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and communities at the heart of our program to encourage and develop new work from local artists,” Mayor Bleasdale said.

Blacktown City Council has resolved to adopt the BBSI project as a Transformational Project and to conduct a period of community consultation regarding the sale of the Council-owned land to facilitate the project.

The sale price will be on the basis of a ‘fair market’ process, all in line with NSW Government approval and governance rules.

“Council has a responsibility to the residents and businesses of Blacktown City to ensure that the redevelopment of our city centre is financially viable, responsible, world’s best practice, and in the best interests of our community,” Mayor Bleasdale said.   

How can I give feedback on the proposed sale?

Residents and businesses are invited to “Have Your Say” on the proposed sale.

Community consultation on the sale will run for a period of 4 weeks; 27 January, 2021, to 24 February, 2021.

Information on the project will still be available following the end of the consultation period.

Where can I find more information about the BBSI and the proposed sale?

For information on the project and to “Have Your Say” visit: www.blacktown.nsw.gov.au/BBSI

Image: Artist's impression of the Blacktown Brain and Spinal Institute project