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What We’ll be Looking for in the NSW Budget
As the first term of the Minns Government crosses the halfway mark and prepares for a third budget, there is a growing appetite for a fresh economic focus to drive growth in the West.
The NSW Government needed to tighten the purse strings as it came to power in an era that has been defined by striking the right balance between inflation and maintaining ongoing investment in infrastructure.
The Government hasn’t left Western Sydney behind in this endeavour.
Despite reducing expenditure, GWS has benefited so far from $6 billion of capital investment in schools and hospitals as well as beginning construction on Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2.
In the lead-up to this budget, the NSW Government has topped up funding for Bankstown Hospital by $700m and committed $492m for a state-of-the-art pathology service at Westmead Hospital.
With those commitments made and more in the pipeline ahead of the Budget on June 24, here are a few of the important projects the Dialogue will be looking out for when the budget papers are revealed this month.
Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2
The NSW Government has pressed go on stage two of Parramatta Light Rail with $2.1 billion provisioned last year to begin construction. Additional funding will need to be allocated however to ensure the funding pool for the project is secure to complete construction by 2032.
Fifteenth Avenue and further road upgrades
The NSW Government has joined the Federal Government in committing $500 million for 15th Avenue Liverpool.
Additionally, we’re hopeful of funds being committed for early land acquisition to enable the preservation of the Stage 1 corridor and to begin investigations for Stage 2 of the Outer Sydney Orbital. Furthermore, maintaining funding for the completion of Picton Road and Mt Ousley Interchange, Appin Road, Spring Farm Parkway Stage 2, and an upgrade of the M5 is critical.
Campbelltown Stadium Upgrade
With Penrith Stadium getting a makeover and a new lick of paint for Leichhardt Oval, it’s time Campbelltown Stadium got a shot in the arm. An upgrade will mean it can attract more major events to South West Sydney, support the growth of women’s sport, and contribute to realising the city’s potential as a vibrant precinct for entertainment sport and active participation, near Western Sydney International Airport.
Visitor Attraction Fund
The Dialogue has long-advocated for a visitor attraction fund for WSI and we are glad the NSW Government set up Take Off, a $16 million pledge to attract more airlines to WSI, at the Dialogue’s Airport City Summit earlier this year. The initial funding is for the coming financial year only. We would like to see greater forecasted expenditure to keep that investment flowing.
Rosehill Plans Shelved – What Next?
The decision by Australian Turf Club members to deny Western Sydney a once-in-a-generation opportunity to address the housing crisis with a metro and mini-city on the Rosehill Racecourse site is a lamentable outcome.
Dialogue Chairman Christopher Brown AM has labeled the ‘no’ vote as short-sighted but urged a fresh approach to ensure the city maintains momentum to boost housing supply.
“(The no vote) sees the end to a new station on the Metro West line, the chance to build a great new entertainment precinct at Rosehill and plans to upgrade Warwick Farm as a major racecourse in Liverpool,” Mr Brown said.
“This makes the need to find solutions for a housing crisis that is particularly impacting Western Sydney all the more urgent. GWS has a total housing target of more than 150,000 homes over the next five years. We need to take the shackles off to get there.
Mr Brown added that residential density around the metro stations at Parramatta and Westmead, and a revised Sydney Olympic Masterplan to be “the future Western Sydney needs”.
“Sydney Olympic Park’s redevelopment is our opportunity to create a golden future, with housing, infrastructure and amenity that will transform the 430-hectare site from an event destination into an integrated, connected and liveable city,” Mr Brown added.
“It should be Australia’s first high-rise suburb, with thousands more homes surrounded by parklands, smart jobs, universities and tourism attractions.
“With the coming metro station and the demise of the Rosehill proposal, we need to ensure that Olympic Park can deliver the homes, jobs and infrastructure we need, including the RAS’s Western Sydney Convention Centre plan, to meet the needs of a booming Western Sydney community.”
The Second Albanese Ministry
Anthony Albanese’s second ministry places great importance on some of the biggest challenges facing the West with his senior leadership team intact and a strong GWS presence at the table.
The Prime Minister’s front bench has prioritised stability and experience with several young and hungry new Ministers joining the ranks. Of note for the West, the accomplished Housing & Homelessness Minister, Clare O’Neil has added ‘Cities’ to her portfolio while important continuity in Infrastructure and Transport (Catherine King) and Health (Mark Butler) are also good outcomes for the West.
Read the Dialogue’s full analysis of the Albanese ministry, including Western Sydney cabinet members and the biggest challenges they face in this term of parliament.
Click here to view our analysis.
WSI Terminal Opened
The region took yet another step forward on the path to opening Western Sydney to the world this month with the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, opening the airport’s first terminal.
Building the airport and the terminal has powered Western Sydney by creating 12,000 jobs resulting in more than $500m being invested in more than 360 Western Sydney businesses.
This news follows the preliminary flight paths for WSI being released.
This was another important milestone that comes off the back of months of community and industry consultation.
WSI is the nation’s biggest infrastructure investment and one that will deliver enormous economic benefits for the region, create thousands of new jobs and transform the West into a global gateway.
It will be a gamechanger for the region, which is why the Dialogue is spearheading the Take Flight 2026 airport readiness campaign.
“WSI will be ready to cater for up to 10 million passengers a year from day one of operations. To ensure Western Sydney can welcome visitors landing on our doorstep from late next year, we need to leverage the region’s unique characteristics and build on its existing assets and strengths,” Dialogue CEO, Adam Leto said.
“Western Sydney needs to be ready to welcome the world, but we only have a small window of opportunity to get the red carpet ready so that visitors stay, play and spend in the West.”
A Note on Water
IPART’s draft report on the review of prices for Sydney Water was a missed opportunity to improve water infrastructure, service delivery and address the housing crisis in Greater Western Sydney.
The capacity of Sydney Water to meet community, business and government expectations will be hampered by the substantial (35%) proposed reduction to capital expenditure on infrastructure, as highlighted by the draft report. This will inevitability lead to choices being made between new and replacement infrastructure.
As our region grapples with rapid expansion, the provision of critical infrastructure must be prioritised. GWS is in a position where it not only needs new infrastructure to cater for new residents but an obligation to improve existing infrastructure.
Directly impacted will be the NSW Government’s ability to deliver their responsibilities under the National Housing Accord. The NSW Government has committed to delivering 377,000 homes over the next 5 years, with 70% of these (265,000) being in Greater Sydney, including a significant number in Western Sydney. This won’t happen without the timely delivery of water infrastructure.
Western Sydney cannot afford to be held back by the most basic of infrastructure not being delivered.
The Dialogue will be strongly urging IPART to reconsider its draft decision, particularly in relation to the capital expenditure allocation.
Celebrating Excellence in GWS
The Dialogue extends its warmest congratulations to Jennifer Westacott AO, who has been named a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours list.
A tireless champion of Western Sydney, Ms Westacott has been recognised with the highest honour for her service to business, tertiary education administration, the mental health sector and the community.
A big congratulations is also in order for Campbelltown City Council CEO, Lindy Deitz, on receiving an Honorary Fellowship from Western Sydney University. This is a proud milestone for one of the region’s hardest working people and the culmination of years of hard work and dedication.
Bankstown Hospital Boost
The new masterplan and additional funding for the redevelopment of Bankstown Hospital is a positive step towards establishing a new nation-leading health and education precinct in Greater Western Sydney (GWS).
After years of advocacy from the Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue, this $2b investment paves the way for improved health outcomes and can kickstart major urban renewal in the Canterbury-Bankstown corridor.
Click here to read our full media release.
New Partner
The Dialogue is thrilled to welcome Oran Park Hotel as a partner. Owned by the award-winning Momento Hospitality Group, Oran Park Hotel brings three levels of innovative dining and entertainment options to the heart of Oran Park in Sydney’s South West.
