Blacktown Brain and Spinal Institute: Blacktown Council to debate land sale in closed meeting

A western Sydney council has come under fire as it considers, behind closed doors, selling off a portion of its CBD to pave the way for the $800m Blacktown Brain and Spinal Institute.

Blacktown MP Stephen Bali, left, and Blacktown councillor Jess Diaz have hit out a “secrecy” that surrounds the Blacktown Brain and Spinal Insitute project.

Blacktown Labor MP Stephen Bali says residents of Sydney’s largest LGA deserve to have a say in the future of their city as secrecy remains around plans to sell a large swath of the city’s CBD for a billion-dollar hospital project.

Mr Bali claimed Blacktown Council had kept quiet on progress on plans for the $800m Blacktown Brain and Spinal Institute (BBSI), as the council prepared for a third vote on the project in almost as many weeks.

The vote, which will take place behind closed doors on Wednesday, comes almost four years after BBSI was first put before the Labor-led council. The project, led by surgeon Charlie Teo, includes a research centre, medi-hospital, new retail centre, and private hospital.

Mr Bali, who was a Blacktown councillor until 2019, said details remained scarce about plans to sell 15ha of council land in the city’s CBD for $100m which would pave way for the project, despite years of closed-door council sessions – including as recently as March 8.

“We should have another debate,” Mr Bali said. “What are we getting as ratepayers? We’re talking about a city the size of Canberra. We are selling the crown jewels. If we’re not getting bang for our buck, maybe there needs to be an alternative.”

Dr Charlie Teo and the planned Blacktown Brain and Spinal Institute.

Plans for the BBSI were first put on public exhibition in late-2019.

Since then, Mr Bali said the nature of the “first-of-its-kind” project might have changed, as might the land sale.

Mr Bali said the initial offer of $100m for the land had “suddenly (become) a secret” after material was removed from the council website.

He now believed it was possible the sale price being offered was considerably lower than first advertised.

On Wednesday, the council will again debate the sale only a week after an extraordinary meeting on the matter.

So far, council staff have not confirmed the nature of the ongoing confidential sessions.

Blacktown councillor Jess Diaz

Responding to questions about the subject of the meeting, a council spokeswoman said: “An extraordinary meeting will be conducted at the council tomorrow (Wednesday) night during which a confidential matter will be addressed.”

Liberal councillor Jess Diaz has also been critical of Blacktown council’s closed-door session.

He said councillors had discussed, inconclusively, rules around confidential debates.

“We need to try and be as transparent as possible,” Mr Diaz said. “Our feeling is there are some aspects that are confidential, and some that are not.

“People have a right to know how we arrive at the final deal, and what that deal is.”

Mr Diaz agreed with Mr Bali that there should be further public consultation.

It comes as Dr Teo faces a medical review. The surgeon is before a NSW medical tribunal on allegations of “unsatisfactory professional conduct”.

Mr Bali previously raised concerns Dr Teo was no longer involved in the project.

Blacktown mayor Tony Bleasdale OAM recently told this publication Mr Teo “intended to carry [the BBSI] forward”.

He also confirmed that council had approved the sale of council land in 2021. Mr Bleasdale was contacted for further comment.