October 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 both Traditional Owners and Local Aboriginal Land Councils and supports calls for a First Nations Voice to Parliament.
Prime Minister’s Luncheon
Western Sydney is home to one of the largest urban populations of Indigenous Australians in the country.
That is why the Dialogue was proud to present a letter signed by over 70 Partners and all of our Patrons supporting the proposed referendum on a Voice to Parliament to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the Dialogue’s Luncheon this month.
Dialogue Chairman, Christopher Brown AM, said constitutional recognition and reconciliation was valued by the region, and argued that engaging local communities in the campaign was essential for a ‘Yes’ vote to succeed.
In his 2022 Lachlan Macquarie Lecture, the new Prime Minister thanked the Dialogue for its ongoing advocacy and re-affirmed his support for the region to a crowd of over 700 senior government, business, industry, academic and community leaders. He also announced a new Western Sydney Expert Panel that will review and report exclusively on the region’s infrastructure projects and confirmed his government’s desire to relocate SBS to the West.
The Dialogue was also proud to honour the contribution of retiring WSU Chancellor, Prof. Peter Shergold AC, with the presentation of the Pemulwuy Prize. We showcased Sara Mansour from the Bankstown Poetry Slam and the Western Sydney Philharmonic orchestra and heard from ‘Cabinet locals’, Education Minister Jason Clare and Communications Minister, Michelle Rowland.
Photos and clips, including the Prime Minister’s delivery of the Lachlan Macquarie Lecture can be viewed here and the Dialogue’s event media releases can be read on our website.
Federal Budget win for GWS
The Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue has welcomed the Australian Government’s commitment to invest nearly $500m in roads and infrastructure projects for Greater Western Sydney in this month’s Federal Budget and will campaign for a greater share of Commonwealth funding in the May Budget.
Canberra has committed to $300 million for the Western Sydney Roads Package, which includes $50 million towards the Castlereagh Connection, $37 million for Richmond Road planning and $75 million for planning and early works in the North West Growth Corridor.
Dialogue Chairman, Christopher Brown AM, said investment in the region will drive jobs, improve accessibility for local residents and help future proof the area against natural disasters.
“For years we have advocated for the life-saving Castlereagh Connection in North-West Sydney, so I’m delighted that the Prime Minister has delivered on the government’s election pledge and committed $50 million for preparatory works,” he said.
“We thank Catherine King MP, the Federal Minister for Infrastructure – who listened and delivered. However, we are pushing for more funding next year for a Metro Rail extension to Leppington, Liverpool and Campbelltown, a first stage Fast Rail commitment from Newcastle to the Central River City and a roads package to open up commercial land in the Western Parkland City among other projects.”
Importantly, the Dialogue hailed the delivery of the $10 billion Housing Australia Fund, on which we worked closely with the then-Labor Opposition before the election. The policy favours Community Housing Providers and institutional investors to partner with Canberra and the States to deliver one million new affordable homes with a big slice of this demand in the growth region of the Greater West.
We look forward to welcoming Minister King at our upcoming Boomtown! Property & Infrastructure Summit at Accor Stadium on December 8 in her first Western Sydney address.
A first for health in Greater Western Sydney
The inaugural Greater Western Sydney Future Health Forum was held at Warwick Farm earlier this month, where NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant AO and NSW Health Secretary Susan Pearce joined healthcare decision makers and representatives to discuss the biggest health challenges facing our region.
The forum examined the infrastructure and services needed to support the region’s rapidly growing population and was delivered by the Dialogue and the Greater Western Sydney Health Partnership, which comprises Western Sydney, South-West Sydney and Nepean Blue Mountains Health Districts.
Importantly, the Dialogue also pressed the NSW Government on a decision for the new Bankstown Hospital and the importance of it being located in the Bankstown CBD. To read more about the event, see our media release on our website.
Thirty per cent of WSA now complete
It was a thrill to see Western Sydney Airport eclipsing major milestones at our Dialogue Partner site tour this month.
Western Sydney Airport CEO Simon Hickey presented his vision on how to create the world’s best airport, which will include a metro station that connects Sydney to the west.
More than half of the workers on-site are from Greater Western Sydney, which is a massive vote of confidence in the skills and talent of our people, including teams from Woods Bagot, Arup and CPB/Acciona.
Close to 25 million cubic metres of earth have been moved to level out the site for the airport and a 200ha office complex will also be built. The airport is now approximately 30% complete and is set to open in 2026 – on time and on budget.
Rail expert headlining Boomtown! 2022
The London and Sydney Olympics, British high-speed rail, and Gatwick Airport. Sir David Higgins is a name synonymous with nation-building projects and events that shape and transform suburbs, cities and states.
Now you have the chance to see and hear one of the pre-eminent voices in city-shaping infrastructure at the Boomtown! Property & Infrastructure Summit in December.
As Western Sydney grows rapidly and new metro and airport projects approach completion, Mr Higgins will give a presentation at Boomtown! on Thursday December 8, addressing the reshaping of our cities, and will reveal the best way to connect our growing population to key services.
The current chairman of Gatwick Airport has played a key role in the development of HS2, a major transport project linking London in the south to Manchester in the north by fast rail, which is set to be delivered in the early 2030s. His role as Chief Executive of Network Rail adds to his high-quality transport infrastructure pedigree.
Previously a managing director at Lendlease – where he was responsible for Sydney 2000 Olympics, Mr Higgins reprised his Olympic role as CEO of the London 2012 Summer Olympics Delivery Authority, where he ensured the smooth construction of Olympic venues.
Exclusive health data unpacked
Our Senior Policy & Research Manager, Lauren Nicholls, revealed new data on mental health for Greater Western Sydney at the Dialogue’s Future Health Forum.
The latest 2021 census data exposes the major challenge we face in addressing mental health, particularly following the impact of Covid-19 lockdowns over the past two years.
Local Government Areas in the outer ring of Western Sydney (Hawkesbury, Wollondilly, Penrith, Camden, Campbelltown, Blue Mountains & Hills Shire) represent 35% of the population of Greater Western Sydney but make up 45% of people with a mental health condition.
The Penrith LGA accounts for 12% of people in GWS with a mental health condition, despite making up only 8% of the regional population
Dialogue Partner News
Congratulations to Dialogue partner Accor which has inked a deal to develop a five-star Pullman Hotel at the Penrith Panthers precinct in Greater Western Sydney.
Set to open in 2023, the precinct will include a 153-room Pullman Sydney Penrith hotel and a 1,000-person conference and community centre.
This announcement follows Accor’s seven-year deal for the naming rights of Accor Stadium at Sydney Olympic Park, where it operates four hotels for AXA, and joins premium Accor properties at Parramatta, Liverpool and Rooty Hill.
Accor NSW boss, Scott Boyes, was one of the many regional tourism leaders that the Dialogue brought together at Panthers this week to discuss how to help grow the visitor and tourism economy in Western Sydney.
Other organisations joining us at this high-powered gig included Sydney Motorsport Park, Penrith Lakes, Sydney Zoo, Western Sydney Airport, Campbelltown and Liverpool City councils and the Greater Parklands Trust
Perrottet, Minns outline Western Sydney vision
Premier Dominic Perrottet and NSW Labor leader Chris Minns will reveal some of their priorities for the region when they address our Boomtown! summit in December.
Mr Minns will address the Project of the Year Awards Dinner on Wednesday December 7 and Premier Perrottet will identify his plan for Greater Western Sydney at the Property & Infrastructure Summit on Thursday December 8.
Federal Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Minister Hon. Catherine King MP and NSW Minister for Metropolitan Roads Hon. Natalie Ward MP will feature in on-stage interviews discussing our infrastructure legacy at the Boomtown! Property and Infrastructure Summit.
Click here to secure your spot to attend the Boomtown! 2022 Project of the Year Awards Dinner on Wednesday December 7 and the Property & Infrastructure Summit on Thursday December 8.
WSU, TAFE, CPB deliver skills for Western Sydney
It is great to see that Penrith City Council will be home to a new $84 million state-of-the-art skills and training facility.
A pioneering partnership between TAFE NSW, Western Sydney University and CPB Contractors will see education courses prepare our people for the jobs of tomorrow.
Vice-Chancellor of Western Sydney University, Professor Barney Glover AO, said the institute will leverage the university’s world-leading expertise in engineering, smart construction, architecture, design, and advanced manufacturing.
“With this Institute, we will co-design and co-deliver highly flexible education programs that integrate research-led learning with advanced technical and industry-based skills,” Professor Glover said.
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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.
