This policy paper explores three major game changing opportunities that governments and industry can leverage to capitalise on existing synergies and clarify and strengthen each region’s roles in supporting the social and economic growth of Greater Sydney and the Illawarra.

The effectiveness of these councils greatly impacts their quality of life through the delivery of local roads, parks and libraries. Unfortunately, Western Sydney has also experienced the worst of local government, with scandals and maladministration at the former Auburn and Canterbury Councils among many others. This paper explores the Dialogue’s recommendations to build stronger local government.

The survey was specifically designed to explore the communities of GWS from the lens of wellbeing, and
how that might be influenced by identity, belonging, and connection to place. This executive summary explores some key findings from the Greater Western Sydney Community Wellbeing Survey.

Over the past 12 months, the Dialogue has worked closely with our Partners and stakeholders to put forward the policies, initiatives and projects that we feel can make a positive difference to Greater Western Sydney (GWS).

We also recognise that with a new NSW Government, managing a much tighter budget, the economic context is a lot different to what it was five or 10 years ago.

While many of the region’s key infrastructure needs, whether they’re transport, cultural, health or community projects, haven’t tapered off, one of the key take-aways to emerge from this process, was that the future success of the region won’t be measured solely by the amount of dollars that are tipped into these critical building blocks.