Threat of demolition hangs over Panjo

It was supposed to be Campbelltown’s pride and joy – a beautiful new iconic building at the gateway of our great city.

But there’s an even chance demolition will be the ultimate fate of Panjo, which stands idle on the corner of Campbelltown Road and Rose Payten Drive.

It’s been almost 10 years since the original owners went broke and work ceased just before any tenants could ever move in.

Now Campbelltown Council, fed up with waiting for something to happen, is telling Dyldam, the current owners of Panjo, that unless they get a move on a demolition order could be on the cards.

Dyldam is a Parramatta based property development and construction group that specialises in residential developments in metropolitan growth corridors.

It has ignored repeated requests from the South West Voice in Macarthur to discuss their intentions regarding Panjo.

Since Dyldam bought Panjo around 2013, the building was not only neglected but became home to feral squatters who caused major problems for the people in neighbouring properties.

As a result of vandalism, waste accumulation and overgrown vegetation, Panjo slowly became an ugly eyesore and an embarrassment to Campbelltown.

After requests from council, the owner made an effort to improve security to stop squatters from entering the building.

But the South West Voice has learned that just two weeks ago Panjo became a crime scene after an explosion in which at least one person seriously injured was taken to hospital.

It seems council is unaware of the incident because in a briefing to councils last week it was not mentioned.

The briefing report reminded councillors of the Panjo timeline, which was that it was completed to lock-up stage around 2010-2011 when the then owners went into receivership and all work on the site ceased.

“A fire in the building in January 2019 heightened community concern and media attention in relation to public safety,’’ the report to councillors said.

“This prompted council to directly engage with the owners at an on-site meeting in February 2019 in which council instructed them to address site security.

“In April 2019, council again met with representatives of the owners and advised them that unless there was substantive progress in developing the site that it was council’s intent to issue a Development Control Order to demolish the building.

“In response to this, the owners assured council that it was their intention to develop the site and provided undertakings to proactively address security issues.

“In late May, 2019 the owner provided Council legal advice indicating that they had activated their development application for the refurbishment of the existing building to create a 172 place child care centre, a recreational facility and provision for 139 serviced apartments.

“This was approved in 2015.

“In June 2019, work to demolish the internal fit out of the building began. This work continued until late November 2019. In January 2020, the remaining waste material from the internal demolition was removed from the site and property secured to council’s satisfaction. 

“Council has more recently written to the developer seeking formal information as to their intentions in progressing the development.

“Councillors will be advised of any progress in this matter,’’ the report said.

One councillor, who did not wish to be identified, said demolition was the best possible course of action for Panjo.

“Apart from anything else, it would probably be cheaper than trying to convert the inside of the building into something it wasn’t meant to be,’’ the councillor said.