The State Government’s Bowden Village project has received a massive boost with the announcement of the purchase of the neighbouring former gas works site from Origin Energy.

The purchase of the 5.7-hectare site adjacent to the Government owned 10.3-hectare former Clipsal site means the Bowden Village project will now span 16 hectares.

Under the deal, the State Government paid a token amount of $1. Origin will contribute $12 million towards the remediation of the land to be carried out by the Government’s Land Management Corporation (LMC).

Remediation work is anticipated to start in 2011 with an estimated total cost of up to $30 million.

The development of both the Clipsal and Origin sites will occur in a coordinated manner, with civil works construction expected to commence on the Clipsal site in 2011. The Bowden Urban Village project will be developed over an 8 to 10 year period.

The Origin site was once owned by the old SA Gas Company (SAGASCO) and became Origin Energy property as a result of privatisation. The site is no longer used by Origin.