Councillors have voted unanimously to embark on extensive community consultation and progress detailed planning and business cases for the proposed International Centre of Training Excellence (ICTE) at the Blacktown International Sportspark, and the Warrick Lane Precinct project in the Blacktown CBD.
The proposed Warrick Lane Precinct will be a modern mixed-use development anchored around a new public plaza to be built above an underground car park catering for 450 vehicles.
The precinct will link seamlessly to Main Street and offer new retail and commercial opportunities in the CBD and the potential to house a university campus and new Council offices.
The ICTE will be a world-leading multi-sport facility providing high performance training, education, sports medicine, research, accelerated recovery and rehabilitation that will be available to everyone.
Blacktown City Mayor Stephen Bali MP said the vote by Council to progress both projects to the next stage was a significant milestone for the future of the whole community.
City transformed
“The ICTE and the Warrick Lane Precinct are both vital projects forming major parts of our vision for transforming Blacktown City into a modern metropolitan city of talent, a magnet for economic and social investment and growth,” Mayor Bali said.
“We are driven to build facilities that can be seen as ‘elite for all’ so Blacktown City can establish itself as one of the leading centres in Sydney and provide opportunity for all our residents.”
The next stage of the planning for the ICTE and Warrick Lane Precinct will involve major Expenditure Reviews of both projects in line with NSW Government guidelines for Local Government spending on major projects.
Council staff and consultants will finalise all design documentation and cost estimates for both projects to a stage where they are ready to go to tender.
Council will also undertake a full round of public consultation to further gauge community support and get valuable feedback on both the ICTE and Warrick Lane Precinct projects.
“We have been consulting with the Blacktown City community and businesses for two years on the Warrick Lane redevelopment and now we’re seeking feedback to make sure our plans match community expectations.
“Council has consulted widely on the planned ICTE including a forum with local sporting organisations and healthcare providers.
Sporting excellence
“We had input from experts including leading British sports physiologist Dr Stephen McGregor, former Socceroo goal keeper Ante Covic, Paralympic athletics champion and coach Louise Sauvage and Co-owner of the Western Sydney Wanderers David Slade,” Mayor Bali said.
The $100-million ICTE project at the Blacktown International Sportspark involves the construction of a performance, health, recovery and research building, infrastructure and sporting fields upgrades and academy accommodation for 100 people.
The Warrick Lane precinct first stage development will create a multi-level underground car park for 450 vehicles, an open plaza, flanking buildings and other infrastructure upgrades to the value of $76.5-million thereby paving the way for further development in the future.
“These projects will result in transformational changes to Blacktown City and we would welcome any State and Federal Government funding support, however we have the financial capacity to undertake these projects with very minimal debt that can be paid off relatively quickly,” Mayor Bali said.
The International Centre of Sporting Excellence is due for completion in 2021 and the Warrick Lane Precinct first stage is planned for completion in 2020.
