Parramatta Mission to lose land in Civic Link proposal

Parramatta Council is forging ahead with plans to seize a portion of Parramatta Mission’s land, which is used to feed and comfort the homeless and victims of domestic violence.

An artist’s impression of the Smart Hub on the proposed Civic Link in Parramatta.

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Parramatta Council is forging ahead with plans to seize a portion of Parramatta Mission’s land, which is used to feed and comfort the homeless and victims of domestic violence.

Councillors last week backed the Civic Link Framework Plan and sent the draft planning controls out for consultation with landowners and the public.

The Civic Link is set to slice off a portion of Parramatta Mission’s land.

“The draft DCP (Development Control Plan) requires setbacks to many sites, one of which is Parramatta Mission,” a council spokeswoman said.

“The mission site, together with other sites, will require some building setbacks to facilitate the Civic Link.”

Under the council’s plans to create Civic Link, a walkway extending from Parramatta Railway Station to Parramatta River, the mission would lose 6.5m of land near its Leigh Memorial Church on Macquarie Street.

The Roxy Theatre will be redeveloped and open on the Parramatta Civic Link.

The not-for-profit’s CEO, Keith Hamilton, estimates that by taking away half of its fellowship building, it would cost the mission at least $30 million.

Mr Hamilton said he was “disappointed” council did not discuss the plan with the mission before its release.

The City Stage, which incorporates the Roxy. This will be a place designed for social and creative gatherings at the heart of Civic Link.

“Parramatta Mission supports the Civic Link concept. However, the document as it stands will not deliver the best outcome for the good of all in the city,” the Uniting Church Senior Minister said.

“It goes beyond any previous discussions and documents previously released by council and raises matters of concern to multiple landholders, and to people caught on the margins of society.”

The yellow highlighted area is the proposed Civic Link, and ‘C’ marks the Leigh Memorial Church in Parramatta. 119A Macquarie St is the location of the Fellowship Centre. Cross hatching on three sides of the Fellowship Centre is the land that Parramatta Council is seeking to obtain.

The land-acquisition furore comes as the mission already has a development application in with council for a $41 million, 12-storey multi-use hub at the Macquarie Street site.

The Civic Link Precinct draft DCP will be on public exhibition for 28 days from the end of March.

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