Work Stops at SW Sydney’s 3600-Home Wilton Greens

A 3600-home mini-city project that changed hands last year is facing another hurdle after receivers were called in. 

Work has ceased at the in-progress Wilton Greens development in Wollondilly Shire, 80km south-west of the Sydney CBD.

The receivers were called in for the new developer’s special purpose vehicle for the site. 

The 432ha masterplan was previously being developed by Guangdong-based Country Garden, operating as Risland Australia.

Large portions of the site had originally been consolidated by Walker Corp, which secured Stage 1 approval for the project in 2019. 

Walker was in the running to co-develop the subdivision with Risland before selling its stake in 2020. Risland broke ground on the project in 2021.

▲ Avantaus took on the majority of the masterplan in a deal last year.

However, Risland put the lion’s share of the site up for sale in 2023 after signalled its intentions to exit the Australian market.

The sale came amid suggestions it was in financial difficulties, after also acquiring a 363ha site in Melbourne’s Wyndham Vale for $400 million. 

Sydney-based, Shanghai-backed Avantaus (ADG)—previously known as Sunglow Australia—picked up the 330ha portion of the site for a reported $240 million in 2024. 

ADG has been working through its payment plan for Stages 3 to 6 of the overall Wilton Greens masterplan, although reports this year indicated the company had defaulted on an instalment.

Receivers, which are predominantly appointed by a secured creditor or creditors to recover debt, rather than by the company itself, have now been called in for its Avantaus Emerald Pty Ltd arm and a related entity.

The receivership applies only to Avantaus Emerald.

Avantaus’s other projects, including Sapphire, its housing project at Rouse Hill, are ongoing and unaffected by the receivership.

▲ The indicative staging plan for the wider Wilton Greens site.

FTI Consulting receivers Christopher Hill and Asjadi Hone confirmed they were appointed as receivers to Avantaus Emerald Pty Ltd.

They indicated that the remaining sites in the Wilton Greens community would be put on the block. 

“We look forward to offering Stages 3 to 6 of the Wilton Greens masterplanned community development to the market for sale, to ensure that the remaining stages of this unique development will be delivered,” Hill said. 

Construction at Wilton Greens is planned to resume once a deal is struck for the masterplan.

Risland was contacted for comment by The Urban Developer and reiterated that the sale of the four stages was going ahead. 

According to plans submitted to the Wollondilly Shire Council, the masterplan includes a town centre, playing fields and a new school, as well as 163ha of environmental conservation space. 

Of the 3600-home total, about 60 homes were built in the community last year.