Dear LG Focus
Recently the State Government’s bill to privatise 49 percent of the electricity network passed through the senate, creating a $20 billion piggy bank Premier Baird promised would largely be directed at new or improved infrastructure.
The recent budget will also deliver an unprecedented $2.1 billion surplus, tipped to boost infrastructure.
There will be money for ‘Western Sydney’ but what does that actually mean to all of us who call this region home?
We often hear the term Western Sydney and while it’s a term that helps to geographically identify the area, it doesn’t accurately reflect the value of a huge region that bears little resemblance to the place that existed when the term was first coined.
Western Sydney is not one place. We’re the sum of many parts. We are geographically and culturally diverse.
The suburbs of Richmond and Campbelltown, both in Western Sydney, are over 50kms apart as the crow flies and around 62kms by road.
More than ever, Western Sydney is a place of innovation with new development and private sector-led transformation.
As Australia shifts from a 20th century resources economy, the new economy of high growth cities will emerge.
Australia would be well served by supporting this new economy of the suburbs by funding infrastructure to fuel it.
In 2005 Penrith embraced the title of Regional City, formalising a role held for many years.
Today Penrith continues to grow, both in terms of population and the numbers of people our city serves.
Penrith needs to be better equipped to deliver the arts, sports and cultural offering people expect from a Regional City.
We need better road and rail connections with other centres and improved mobility in and around our own City Centre.
Developers, property investors and other stakeholders came together in Penrith in a landmark project – Penrith Progression – identifying opportunities to revitalise our City Centre with smart growth.
Together the Penrith community and the private sector are growing a city of the future.
Recently we received more than $300 million in development applications, including four within one week, proposing approximately 250 apartments.
In many cases apartments are selling ‘off the plan’, interest is high.
Imagine how great it would be if this was matched by government investment.
We’d like to sit down with the State Government and Infrastructure NSW to discuss projects that benefit Penrith and the State. Penrith’s increasing role of housing the state’s growing population is inextricably linked with providing residents with better access to services, jobs and opportunities.
Councillor Ross Fowler
Mayor, Penrith City
