ABC signs heads of agreement for Parramatta office in western Sydney
Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has signed a heads of agreement for the lease for a new workplace at Parramatta in western Sydney.
The new workspace, 6-8 Parramatta Square, was selected following an extensive procurement process.
The move was a part of ABC’s five-year plan to see 75% of content makers working outside its Ultimo head office by 2025. The decision to relocate the ABC staff was first announced in 2021.
It is anticipated the process to develop the Parramatta workspace, confirm teams and roles to be based there, and relocate approximately 300 employees, will be complete by 2024.
There have been calls for ABC’s public service broadcaster counterpart, SBS, to also relocate to Parramatta. However, several western Sydney councils are battling to house the latter, while Willoughby council pleads for SBS to stay put on the north shore, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
David Anderson
David Anderson, ABC managing director, said: “Establishing this new facility in Parramatta is a significant step in meeting our commitment to be more local and engaged with the community and less centralised in the Sydney CBD.
“As a new facility, ABC Parramatta provides a rare opportunity to build something from the ground up. It will be a home for innovation and collaboration, designed and equipped to help us better serve Australians, now and into the future.”
Executive chairman of Parramatta Square, Lang Walker AO, welcomes the move.
“The ABC will become an integral part of Parramatta Square, which is welcoming all of Sydney as a great place to work, live and socialise.”
The final lease agreement for Parramatta Square is expected to be concluded by the end of August. The next stage in the development of ABC Parramatta will be the review of the proposal by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works per the usual practice.
The ABC will continue to consider a range of options for its property holdings, operations, and production in other state capitals and regional Australia.
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Darcy Song was a reporter at Mumbrella, covering media owners, adtech and social platforms. She left in October 2023.
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