March 2022
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We acknowledge and honour Aboriginal People who have cared for Country in Greater Western Sydney for at least 60,000 years.
The Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue thanks these Traditional Owners and we pay our respects to their Ancestors and Elders – past, present and emerging.
We have a date!
The Dialogue’s inaugural Ignite GWS Summit, held in partnership with NSW Treasury, NSW Education, CBA and other major partners, will be staged on Wednesday 15 June 2022, at Commbank Stadium, Parramatta.
The event will bring together the region’s bright minds, new players and emerging enterprises to discuss the precincts, technologies, innovation and industries that will grow jobs and ignite an economy.
Ignite GWS will feature a host of speakers across business, education and government, including NSW Treasurer, Matt Kean, with more program details to be released shortly.
All the latest event information can be found on our event website.
The Dialogue has submitted its response to the Western Parkland City Authority’s Draft Blueprint, which outlines a plan for the Authority to deliver on a green, connected and advanced Western Parkland City.
Key points raised by the Dialogue, include:
The demonstrable focus on the whole City, not just the Aerotropolis/Bradfield City core, and the existing population and job centres, is welcomed by the Dialogue.
Support of the new rail link to Leppington from the Aerotropolis, with views to extend it to Glenfield, especially given the federal government’s allocation of funding to this project in the 2022-23 budget.
The large focus on moving towards net zero within the city, as well as prioritising parks and open spaces. Greater Western Sydney has suffered too long without access to open green space, which would also aid in the reduction of the urban heat island effect.
Government
The Dialogue welcomes the release of the Federal Budget, especially the inclusion of the below infrastructure projects:
The Dialogue has also welcomed the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation (NHFIC) Liability Cap for government-backed debt to finance new social and affordable housing projects being raised by $2b to $5.5b in the Budget, which will help the not-for-profit community housing sector deliver much-needed new supply. The Dialogue has called for this cap to be raised to $10b over four years, making this a welcome first step.
The $1.6b WestInvest Community Projects Grants program is now open to registrations of interest by Greater Western Sydney community groups as of today. The Dialogue is looking to host an online event with Government next week to discuss the fund, its guidelines, and how their stakeholders can take part in this initiative.
The second Sydney Metro West tunnelling contract was awarded to the Laing O’Rourke Consortium to deliver nine kilometres of twin metro rail tunnels between Sydney Olympic Park and Westmead.
Read about it here.
Construction has begun on the Alfred St Bridge extending across Parramatta River, providing an important active transport route complementing the current ones around and along the Parramatta River.
Western Sydney & Aerotropolis
Construction has begun on the Western Sydney Airport’s 3.7km international runway, with cutting-edge technology and innovative design coming together on the airfield to set a new benchmark for air travel in Australia.
The Western Sydney Airport Connectivity Centre opened in Penrith earlier this month and provides support to jobseekers by coordinating a range of services to help them into sustainable employment. These include First Nations support services, migrant and refugee services, services for people without homes, as well as charity groups, schools and all three levels of government.
The final Precinct Plan for the Aerotropolis has been released and includes plans for the Aerotropolis Core, Badgerys Creek, Northern Gateway, Agribusiness and Wianamata-South Creek precincts following extensive consultation. The Dialogue campaigned hard for amendments to the plan and is comfortable with the changes we have secured.
The Western Sydney Airport is inviting its future customers to join an exclusive panel that will help set a new standard for what people can expect when they fly in Australia by identifying pain points customers typically experience at older airports.
Construction has begun on the new six-storey hospital tower, part of the $790m Liverpool Health and Academic Precinct.
The new hospital will deliver enhanced health facilities and will include an integrated cancer centre, a larger emergency department, intensive care unit and more theatres.
Read about it here and view updates on the precinct here.
Blacktown Hospital has welcomed the opening of its new Paediatric Ward, the latest part of the $700m Blacktown & Mount Druitt Hospitals Expansion Project.
Read about it and view photos here.
The Dialogue has written to Premier Perrottet seeking urgent confirmation of the personal commitment he gave to us, and to Bankstown Mayor, Clr Khal Asfour, at our December Boomtown Summit that the State Govt would develop the new $1b Bankstown Hospital in the CBD location we have been calling for. There is speculation that some people are still pushing for a lesser outcome whereby the hospital remains in its existing, and inaccessible, location, delaying the project.
Digital Dialogue: Western Sydney Unfiltered
Western Sydney Unfiltered is a series of short, conversational interviews with some of the region’s leaders, to explore the latest news, issues and emerging trends. In tackling important policies and major projects, these one-on-one sessions with some of our city’s big thinkers, bright minds and most influential voices will help keep you in the know with everything that is going on in Greater Western Sydney.
Click here or the image above to watch the recent interviews with:
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We acknowledge and honour Aboriginal People who have cared for Country in Greater Western Sydney for at least 60,000 years and acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we gather today.
The Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue thanks these Traditional Owners and we pay our respects to their Ancestors and Elders – past, present and emerging.
We also acknowledge the vital role played by our Local Aboriginal Land Councils, the modern custodians for all First Nations people who currently live in our region, home to one of the largest urban Aboriginal populations in Australia.
