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Camden Forum: Making The Case For Investment
Last month, more than 180 government, industry and community leaders came together at our forum, Unlocking Camden’s Growth Potential: The Time is Now, to highlight the need for investment in critical transport, health and education infrastructure across the region.
The forum underscored the scale of growth facing Camden, with its population projected to increase by 74 per cent to 257,000 residents by 2046.
Dialogue CEO Adam Leto said meeting this challenge would require significant public and private investment to ensure the region can realise its full economic potential.
“Camden is one of the fastest-growing local government areas in the country, and we need to address the demand for schools, childcare and health services, alongside transport and community infrastructure,” Mr Leto said.
Speaking at the event, NSW Minister for Roads and Regional Transport Jenny Aitchison announced the NSW Government will invest $230 million in 83 targeted safety upgrades across the state, including a $7 million upgrade to the Old Hume Highway (Remembrance Driveway) in Camden South, delivering new traffic signals at the intersection of Wire Lane and Elizabeth Macarthur Avenue.
The Forum also highlighted the need to fund essential rail services and critical road infrastructure, such as the Spring Farm Parkway Extension Stage 2 and the South West Rail Link Extension from Bradfield to Macarthur.
Western Sydney’s Cargo Precinct Goes Live
After 20 years of planning, advocacy and anticipation, Western Sydney has reached a defining moment in its aviation history. Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport’s new Cargo Precinct is now operating 24 hours a day, becoming the only airport in Sydney able to offer continuous service – reinforcing the region’s growing role as a national freight and logistics hub.
The economic impact is significant. The precinct will move up to 270,000 tonnes of freight a year in its first stage, scaling to 1.8 million tonnes as it matures, supporting more than 19,000 direct and indirect jobs once fully operational.
Freight, warehousing and logistics jobs are moving closer to home for a workforce that has too often had to commute east to secure this kind of work. Paired with construction now underway on Bradfield City’s Second Building and the newly greenlit Burrah Park industrial estate, the Aerotropolis is taking shape as a world-class industrial precinct.
With passenger flights set to commence on 25 October, there’ll soon be even more to celebrate.
A Win for Western Sydney: Toll Relief Confirmed
Western Sydney drivers are set to benefit, with tolls reduced across four Sydney motorways, including the M7 and M2.
This kind of cost-of-living relief will deliver real benefits for motorists in our region and provide some confidence about the future, especially when paired with the $50 weekly toll cap and the continuation of the M5 Cashback Scheme.
$160 Million Boost for Tallawong Commuters
In more good news for local commuters, it was also great to see the NSW Government announce a $160 million investment to deliver up to 1,100 additional commuter parking spots at Tallawong Metro station, one of the busiest in the north-west.
Advanced Manufacturing Momentum at the Aerotropolis
Two more major milestones landed at the Western Sydney Aerotropolis this month: construction has commenced on Bradfield City’s Second Building, home to Australia’s first commercial Semiconductor Advanced Packaging Facility, and the $1 billion Burrah Park industrial estate has also been given the green light.
Together, they’re a strong vote of confidence in Greater Western Sydney’s future as Australia’s manufacturing powerhouse. The region has the workforce, the land, the connectivity and the ambition to lead the nation’s next era of advanced manufacturing.
Airport City Summit: A Defining Moment, Revisited
With the WSI Cargo Precinct now open, it’s a great time to look back at the Dialogue’s third annual Airport City Summit, where Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joined more than 400 guests. It was a powerful reminder of how far the region has come – and how much opportunity still lies ahead, as Western Sydney takes its place as Australia’s newest global gateway.
GWS Youth Voices Survey: Help Us Understand What Young People in Western Sydney Value
Ahead of the NSW State election in March next year, the Dialogue has produced a survey to better understand the views and values of young people in Western Sydney. This will be the first state election in which around 40 per cent of electors across the Greater West are under 29 years of age. Findings from the survey will help inform our engagement with government and institutions over the coming months.
If you’re connected with a network of young people aged 18–29 in GWS, we’d value your help sharing this survey: Complete or share the survey here
WSI | CACG Annual Forum
We’re pleased to support the inaugural Western Sydney International Community Aviation Consultation Group (CACG) Annual Forum. The CACG is an independent advisory body bringing together community, industry and government representatives to provide input on the airport’s development, of which Dialogue CEO Adam Leto is a member.
Hosted by CACG Chair Professor Peter Shergold AC and Deputy Chair Paul Lucas, the Forum offers a unique opportunity to visit the WSI Terminal, take a guided tour and meet representatives from the airport, industry and government. The day will feature stakeholder information tables, opportunities for conversation and terminal tours throughout the day.
Click here for more information
WSU | Social Cohesion Roundtable
It’s clear Western Sydney’s scale and diversity make it uniquely placed to lead the national conversation on social cohesion, and so Dialogue Chair Christopher Brown AM was delighted to join Western Sydney University’s inaugural Chancellor’s Social Cohesion Roundtable, convened by Chancellor Professor Jennifer Westacott AC.
Bringing together voices from government, policing, business, education, sport, faith and community sectors, the roundtable examined how to strengthen belonging, trust and opportunity across Western Sydney.
University of Notre Dame | Auburn Study Centre
Expanding education options in Western Sydney has never been more important, and it was great to be on hand last month as Federal Minister for Education Jason Clare launched The University of Notre Dame Australia‘s new Auburn Study Centre.
The facility will deliver a mix of undergraduate programs and new pathways with a focus on flexibility and accessibility, including modern teaching and learning spaces, a lecture theatre and a student common area. Congratulations to the team at The University of Notre Dame Australia on this important milestone.
Afterpay Arena | Official renaming and launch
Last month also saw one of Sydney’s most iconic live entertainment venues enter a new chapter, with the official renaming of Afterpay Arena at Sydney Olympic Park.
It will be the first Australian venue where customers can use Afterpay across the entire experience – from tickets, to merchandise and the bar – another strong signal of the kind of investment and innovation Western Sydney continues to attract.
Congratulations to Matthew Lazarus-Hall and the Legends Global team on what promises to be a great partnership delivering world-class experiences in the heart of the city.
UNSW | Pitch Night South West
It was incredible to join UNSW Founders for its third Pitch Night South West at the Bryan Brown Theatre in Bankstown last month, proving once again there’s no shortage of talent, ideas and entrepreneurship in the region.
Eight teams of students pitched live for a share of a $40,000 prize pool in front of judges including Federal Education Minister Jason Clare, Westpac’s Business Lending Managing Director Tamara Bryden, UNSW Research and Enterprise Deputy Vice Chancellor Professor Bronwyn Fox AO, and Flying Fox Ventures co-founder Kylie Frazer.
From devices supporting people living with dementia, to AI tools improving the higher-education experience and next-gen security technology, this year’s finalists proved there’s a wealth of big ideas on our doorstep waiting to be untapped. Congratulations to all who entered, and special thanks to local state member Minister Jihad Dib and City of Canterbury Bankstown Mayor Bilal El-Hayek for their support.
Transport for NSW | InMotion 2026
The Transport for NSW’s InMotion 2026 proved a valuable opportunity to bring together government and industry leaders to discuss the projects and priorities shaping the state’s transport pipeline.
We heard insights from Transport Secretary Josh Murray on the year ahead, along with addresses from Transport Minister John Graham, Minister for Roads and Regional Transport Jenny Aitchison, and Minister for Finance and Domestic Manufacturing Courtney Houssos.
It was also great to hear that Greater Western Sydney remains central to the Government’s focus, with renewed impetus to deliver Parramatta Light Rail, prioritise critical infrastructure projects, and supercharge the domestic manufacturing of transport assets in the West.
A Note From The Chair
The Sydney Table with Christopher Brown AM
Sydney has no shortage of opinions and opinionated leaders. What it lacks is honest, informed and respectful conversation between people who have the power to change things.
The Sydney Table brings the ideas, debates and provocations to you.
Hosted by Christopher Brown AM, each episode takes on the news and issues our city can’t afford to ignore and hosts the conversations it needs to have.
Listen to the latest episode: Vibrancy or Virtue? Pokies, Pubs and Sydney’s Night-Time Economy featuring Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne and former NSW Minister David Elliott.
