Newsletter - April 2023

Development Plan Lodged for Castle Towers in Sydney

A development application has been submitted for the expansion of Castle Towers, a shopping centre in Sydney’s northwest.

The project will create a mixed-use precinct called "The Village," which will include a three-story retail area, a new hotel designed by Woods Bagot with more than 200 rooms, and a 12-story office tower designed by BVN that will accommodate over 2,000 workers.

The project is intended to catalyse the shopping centre's long-term transformation.

“Our long-term masterplan for Castle Towers responds to this need and looks to seamlessly integrate additional sustainability-led developments over coming years that will become exemplars of urban living and design,” said Matthew James, investment general manager for developer QIC.

“This is a bold new chapter for Castle Hill, which will deliver exciting new ways to live, work and play; drawing new audiences and delivering inspiration for future generations,”?James said.

The construction project will incorporate a dining area with a similar ambience to that of a CBD (central business district), along with a venue for live music performances, a garden on the roof, and public areas filled with greenery.

Parramatta Infill Tower Plans Filed

A proposed plan has been submitted to the Parramatta Council for the construction of a tall, slim building at 12 Union Street.

The building is intended to be 10 stories tall and will be divided into two equal parts, with one half being used as?office space?for an?accountancy firm, while the other half will be used for residential and retail purposes.

The location of the building is in close proximity to the?Parramatta train?station and is situated within the Parramatta town centre. The proposed plan involves the demolition of the current site to accommodate the new building.

It represents a “rare opportunity to redevelop an undersized and undercapitalised site within an established town centre”, according to the application.

Half of the site, comprising the first five floors of the building, will be designated for residential use, which will consist of nine serviced apartments along with a retail space located on the ground floor.

The other half of the building will be designated for office use and will have four separate?office suites?spread over several levels, with a total floor area of 521 square meters.

The design of the building aims to blend in with the surrounding structures by aligning its floors with at least one of the adjacent buildings. This approach is intended to create a uniform appearance along the street and provide a consistent look with the dominant form of the podium, making it an?infill development.

AUDAA is the nominated architect for the project.?

Get Ready to Exhibit and Sponsor the Largest Construction & Design Show

Sydney Build Expo will be returning to the ICC Sydney from 1 to 2 May 2024.

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Key advantages include:

1. Access to a large and targeted audience: Sydney Build is the largest construction expo in Australia, attracting thousands of attendees from across the AEC industry. By exhibiting or sponsoring the event, you can showcase your products and services to a highly targeted audience of potential customers.
2. Networking opportunities: In addition to showcasing products and services, Sydney Build also provides ample opportunities for networking and building new business relationships. Connect with other?industry professionals, potential partners, and key decision-makers at Sydney Build 2024!
3. Brand exposure: Exhibiting and sponsoring at Sydney Build can also help to increase your brand's exposure and awareness. With a range of marketing and?promotional opportunities?available, your company can reach a wider audience and build?brand recognition?within the industry.

Contact us today to receive your exhibiting and sponsorship brochure!

Evergreen Receives Approval for Building Three Towers on North Shore

A Sydney-based property development company, Evergreen Property and Investment has received approval for a $150 million project comprising three residential towers on Sydney's lower north shore.

The towers will be 12, 15 and 19 storeys high, and will provide 232 apartments and townhouses.

The Sydney North Planning Panel approved the development, agreeing with?Lane Cove Council's assessment that it will offer a diverse range of new dwellings suitable for a growing population in a high-density environment.

“The project meets the objectives set for the St Leonards South Precinct,” the planning panel said in a written decision.

The proposed development by?Evergreen Property?and Investment will cover ten lots, approximately 6727 square meters, located at 4-8 Marshall Avenue, 1-5?Canberra Avenue, and 2-8 Holdsworth Avenue in St Leonards, also known as Area One, Two and Four of the St Leonards South Precinct.

Although the area is currently comprised of low-density residential dwellings, the?New South Wales?government approved?higher-density development?in September 2020, with the support of Lane Cove Council. This decision has paved the way for developers to potentially demolish around 100 homes to make way for future development.

The project will be designed by Rothelowman Architects.

Train Testing Beneath Sydney Harbour Begins

The Sydney Metro City & Southwest project has progressed to its next stage, marking a significant milestone in the state's transportation history.

For the first time, new metro trains are running deep below Sydney Harbour, covering a distance of nearly 16km in twin metro railway tunnels. The tunnels extend the Metro North West Line from Chatswood Station to Sydenham Station, as part of an extensive testing and commissioning program.

The completion of this railway crossing marks the first of its kind to be constructed beneath Sydney Harbour. Once the metro trains begin operating in 2024, they will be able to transport more people across the Harbour during peak hours than both the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Harbour Tunnel combined.

During the initial stage of testing, trains are manually driven at a maximum speed of 25km/h. This low-speed testing is now complete, and the trains will gradually transition to high-speed testing, where they will reach a maximum speed of 110 km/h.

In addition to the speed testing, each train will undergo acceleration and braking testing on the new track and undergo a series of system checks to ensure reliable performance under operating conditions.

The on-track train testing and commissioning will continue throughout 2023, leading up to the launch of passenger services through the Sydney CBD in 2024.

When passenger services begin in 2024, commuters can travel from Central Station to Chatswood Station within 15 minutes, from Martin Place Station to Sydenham Station within 11 minutes, and from Victoria Cross Station in North Sydney to Barangaroo Station in just 3 minutes, thanks to the fast and reliable metro service.