This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
Delfin Lend Lease and Bradcorp are set to undertake a $1 billion landmark residential development in Bingara Gorge, in Sydney’s southwest.
Yesterday, the New South Wales Minister for Planning Frank Sartor officially turned the first sod at Bingara Gorge marking the commencement of construction works. The Minister was joined by Delfin Lend Lease’s chief executive Rod Fehring, Bradcorp’s chief executive Peter Brennan, and Wollondilly Mayor Phil Costa, for the ceremony.
Fehring said the new community would deliver a high standard of urban design, landscaping, infrastructure, housing and facilities, which would complement the traditional country character of the Wollondilly Shire.
“Bingara Gorge will provide a benchmark for future residential developments on Sydney’s fringe in terms of quality, sustainability and lifestyle. It will also provide a diverse range of quality housing choices to support the NSW Government’s Metro Strategy south western growth corridor, which will see a city the size of Canberra established on Sydney’s south western region within 30 years,” he added.
Minister Sartor and Fehring also announced the new name ‘Bingara Gorge’ for the project, which was previously known as the Wilton Parklands site.
Bingara Gorge will include 1,165 residential lots, a country club and 18-hole Championship golf course designed by one of the world’s top ranked golfers, Ernie Els.
Delfin Lend Lease and Bradcorp are developing the 450 ha community at Wilton – 60 minutes south-west of Sydney, at the gateway to the Southern Highlands. The development will create 300 permanent jobs and 450 construction jobs over the next five years.
Developers Delfin Lend Lease and landowners Bradcorp finalised the development agreement for the project late last year. Under a State Development Agreement, finalised with the Planning Minister, the developers will meet the costs of providing regional infrastructure such as roadworks, a primary school and funding for other State services.
Both Delfin Lend Lease and Bradcorp are committed to building a strong and progressive community at Bingara Gorge, complete with a school, childcare centre, village centre with shops and commercial uses, 18km of paths and trails and high quality sporting facilities through the creation of eight hectares of sporting fields, including upgrading the existing Wilton Oval.
Bingara Gorge is also the Wollondilly Shire’s first masterplanned community and is expected to be home to more than 3,500 residents by 2014.
“Bingara Gorge will be a place that people are proud to call home. It will be a model project for growth outside the Sydney metropolitan area in that it reflects the best of city and modern country living. After many years of meticulous planning it is very pleasing to see our initial vision turn into reality.” Brennan said.
Initial construction work would focus on the development of key infrastructure for the community.
Fehring said works would begin with construction of the golf course, the first 215 residential lots, the sales and information centre and the display village, which will be unveiled in mid 2007.
“Our research shows there is strong demand from homebuyers looking for better quality land close to retail, commercial, service and education facilities.
“Bingara Gorge has been designed to maximise views of open space and the golf course, in order to enhance its natural setting. About 80% of the blocks will be more than 800 sqm, and half will have either golf, park or bushland frontage.” Fehring said.
Bradcorp and Delfin Lend Lease have undertaken extensive community consultation through the Wilton Park Reference Panel, the Wilton Progress Association and the Wollondilly Council, which will continue as Bingara Gorge comes to life.
"There has been constant communication between Bradcorp and the community over a five year period, as we worked towards a solution that would accommodate both the interests of the developer and that of the community,” Wilton Progress Association president Paul Spencer said.
“It has been a highly effective process as we resolved any concerns to achieve a sustainable solution for the good of the region, through a series of open forums, on-site information days and ongoing consultation.
“We are looking forward to continuing this process with Delfin Lend Lease to ensure a positive integration of the new and existing communities, as this is vital to its success,” he added.
The first blocks are expected to go on sale early 2007.
By Adam Parsons
