Western Sydney City Deal announced with railway reaching the Western Sydney Airport

Guest Observer

The Western Sydney City Deal is a major shaper for the Greater Sydney region and represents a significant investment to implement the Greater Western Sydney Parkland City of the 'Sydney Three Cities Regional Strategy'.

PIA NSW congratulates the Federal Government, NSW Government and the eight local councils for working together strategically and committing to the Western Sydney City Deal package. The package delivers six broad priorities, namely: 

1. Connectivity – connecting Western City with a North South rail, digital linkages, road and bus

2. Jobs for the future – Western Sydney Airport to drive investment and employment growth

3. Skills and education – coordinating education and training to support skills development and training for jobs, particularly local opportunities, including for indigenous and aboriginal communities.

4. Planning and housing – actions for planning and improving housing supply and affordability

5. Livability and environment – working to create a great place with respecting agriculture, celebrate natural assets and heritage

6. Governance – a shared vision, Implementation Board and development of an implementation Plan with Greater Sydney Commission coordinating land sue and infrastructure

PIA together with UDIA NSW recently joined together writing to the Prime Minister and NSW Premier calling for the Western Sydney City Deal to include funding for a north- south railway line, and the South West Rail Line Extension to enmesh the Western Sydney Airport in the economy of Western Sydney - and connect it with the Central and Eastern Cities of Sydney.

The announcement today outlines the commitment to funding the first stage of the North South Rail from St Marys to Western Sydney airport with a rapid bus between Penrith, Liverpool and Campbelltown, which is a fantastic start, said the NSW PIA President. This will be a huge step in creating a focus for the ‘Western Parkland City’ in a way that links health, education and a range of other industries and jobs vital for this city to achieve its full potential.

The other strategic priorities are also important for Sydney communities including the concentration of funding to improve community facilities and open space.

Jenny Rudolph is the President of the Planning Institute of Australia's NSW division.

She can be contacted here.