At a Special Council Meeting held on the night of 2 June 2010, a mutual agreement was struck to purchase three of the last seven properties without invoking public powers for forced acquisition of property.

These three properties will be sold to Parramatta City Council on agreed values following a mutually agreed process facilitated by the Hon Justice Jerrold Cripps QC (former ICAC Commissioner), and an independent valuer.

The agreed values are considered fair and reasonable by all parties, and will allow Council to proceed further with its development partner to redevelop Parramatta’s Civic Place.

Civic Place is an ambitious $1.6 billion project that will transform the area bounded by Darcy, Smith and Macquarie Streets into a vibrant mix of community and commercial space. Stage one of the project will result in the east side of the site - bounded by Smith Street and Macquarie Street - developed first and will contain new Council offices, a range of first-class community facilities including a new state-of-the-art library and new public space.

The three hectare site, when completed, will also contain new inner city residences and A Grade environmentally efficient quality office space essential for the capital of western Sydney, pedestrian links to the neighbouring Parramatta Transport Interchange and open public space that will represent 50 per cent of the site are also contained within the plans.