New Blueprint for Sydney’s Booming South West
A new strategic plan to guide development in the South West, the state’s fastest-growing region, will prove critical, according to leading advocacy group, the Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue.
The need for a new blueprint for growth was raised with NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Paul Scully, at the South West Sydney Development Forum in Campbelltown, where the Minister confirmed the Greater Sydney Region Plan is currently being updated and that a draft is expected to be released shortly.
Speaking at the forum attended by more than 200 delegates from state and local government, industry and academia, Minister Scully said the new region plan would be simpler and easier to navigate.
Adam Leto, Dialogue CEO, said housing and employment targets would play a crucial role in providing a new planning vision.
“A lot has changed in our city since the original plan was released back in 2018 – most notably, the increased urgency to deliver more homes and jobs,” Mr Leto said.
“With more than one million residents expected to live in the South West by 2041, you would expect that the strategy wouldn’t just be about setting housing and employment targets, but also highlight the infrastructure required to help support them.
“These new homes will need to be connected to water, sewerage and energy, to jobs, education and healthcare services, and connected to roads, rail, metro and bus routes that link to current and emerging employment centres, such as those located in the Aerotopolis.
“We’re looking forward to seeing a plan that ties all of this together.
“Today we’ve brought all levels of government to discuss how to meet the needs of this booming region, and help the South West embrace the potential economic, social and job opportunities as government tackles the region’s housing challenges.”
More than 200 delegates attended the Dialogue’s second South West Sydney Development Forum.
Speakers addressing the housing, infrastructure and transport challenges for the region included:
Greg Warren, Member for Campbelltown; Darcy Lound, Mayor of Campbelltown; Monica Gibson, Deputy Secretary, Planning, Land Use Strategy, Housing & Infrastructure; Angela Jeffery, Head of Project Delivery, Sydney Metro; Trudi Mares, Deputy Secretary – Planning, Integration and Passenger, Transport for NSW; Andrew Carfield, GM of Camden Council; and Ben Taylor, CEO of Wollondilly Shire Council.
The Dialogue believes there are a number of key projects and funding priorities that will help support future growth for South West Sydney over the coming years, including:
- Delivery of rapid bus services to WSI, continued funding for new bus routes and frequency of services for high growth and under-serviced areas.
- The southern extension of Sydney Metro WSA – from Bradfield to Campbelltown-Macarthur via Oran Park.
- The identification and preservation of suitable land for future health infrastructure to service new communities.
- Out of sequence capital expenditure for water infrastructure to unlock new land release.
- Funding for the completion of the following roads –
- Spring Farm Parkway Stages 2&3
- Appin Road with M31 linkage
- Picton Road and Mt Ousley Interchange
- Upgrades to the M5