Sydney’s west to have population, east to have jobs, Lucy Turnbull warns

WITHOUT a drastic push for jobs in Western Sydney, in 20 years the nation’s fastest- growing area will have 50 per cent of Sydney’s population but the east will have 60 per cent of the jobs, Greater Sydney Commission chair Lucy Turnbull warns.

WITHOUT a drastic push for jobs in Western Sydney, in 20 years the nation’s fastest- growing area will have 50 per cent of Sydney’s population but the east will have 60 per cent of the jobs, Greater Sydney Commission chair Lucy Turnbull warns.

A report commissioned by the Greater Sydney Commission shows disparity in jobs across the city, with the City of Sydney providing 30 per cent of Sydney’s total GDP.

Warning... Lucy Turnbull

The study found the CBD offered more than 800,000 jobs or 35 per cent of all jobs in Sydney. By comparison, the west’s central district had 480,000 jobs and the north district had almost 470,000 jobs. Then came the southwest, with 237,000, the south with 185,000 and the west with 125,000.

The research claimed that by 2036 there would be 3.2 million people living in Western Sydney, including 1.8 million — more than the population of Adelaide — living west of the M7. That is an extra 950,000 people over 20 years.

Fifty per cent of Sydney’s population are set to live in the west

Sixty per cent of jobs will be in Sydney’s east, Lucy Turnbull warns.

If things continue as they are now, 50 per cent of Sydney’s population will live in the west but 60 per cent of jobs will be in the east.

Ms Turnbull said yesterday the commission’s focus was to spread jobs more evenly across the city and suburbs.

“The solution is strong, strategic planning,’’ she said.

She said town centres like Liverpool, Campbelltown and Leppington all had a role to play, particularly linked to the new Badgerys Creek airport.