Top price for Edmondson Park block

A private company directed by lawyer Peter Short paid more than a $1 million an acre for a seven-acre block in Croatia Avenue, Edmondson Park, in May.

The price, the highest this year by almost $500,000 an acre for the area, bucks a 2006 prediction by an Urban Development Institute of Australia member that landowners would not get more than $270,000 an acre.

The lowest price this year was for a Jardine Drive property which fetched $333,000 an acre.

The Croatia Avenue block was bought by Australian General Resources, directed also by Mr Short's wife, Helen.

Mr Short declined to provide any information about the company or the purchase.

The land was earmarked for high-density development at the time of the sale but has since been exhibited for medium- and low-density.

The final density has not been decided.

In August, the Planning Department paid $3.65million for a five-acre property in the future rail corridor on Jardine Drive.

Leppington landowners affected by the rail corridor said they have been offered around $300,000 from the Planning Department.