E.J Cooper and Son Pty Ltd (EJC), which is owned by the Baiada family group of companies, based at Girraween – one of Australia’s largest privately owned companies – plans the Sydney Science Park to be developed in stages over a 25 year period.

EJC has committed to providing the financial backing, reported to be $2.5 billion, to deliver the necessary infrastructure and to create a place that will have the capacity to employ 12,200 professionals, educate 10,000 students and provide quality residences for these students and workers.     

EJC’s total landholding at Luddenham Road, Luddenham, comprises over 400 hectares of rural land and the draft planning proposal incorporates the development of 287 hectares predominantly within the Broader Western Sydney Employment Area

EJC have recently announced they are relocating the Baiada Australian headquarters, Baiada National Food Science Laboratories and Research Facility and University of Sydney Poultry Research Foundation to the site in the initial stage of development.

This commitment would bring 400 to 500 jobs to Penrith with the first development applications, council said.

The built form would deliver high quality design with complementary landscape features in a range of five to eight storey buildings.

Council endorsed the planning proposal be forwarded for gateway determination by the Department of Planning and Infrastructure.

A council report noted the Sydney Science Park was a unique development for Australia. It will feature a cluster leading science based businesses, tertiary institutions, research and development providers in one location.

"This is probably one of the most exciting things to happen to this city this year," Mayor, Ross Fowler, said.