Council demands government funding for road, rail upgrades and revamp to river

PENRITH Council is demanding that state and federal governments help shoulder the cost of the infrastructure needed to establish it as a regional city with six priorities on the list.

Penrith Mayor Karen McKeown will officially open the re-developed Barr and Bass Street Reserve with a community celebration

PENRITH Council has made clear the direction it wants for the city going forward and is calling on the state and federal Governments to help make plans a reality.

Upgrades to road and rail infrastructure, revamping the Nepean River banks and bringing extra development into the CBD are some of the six advocacy priorities pinpointed by the council.

In terms of funding, it has identified the need for $19 million to deliver the Regatta Park plans, which will bring extra parking, play areas, outdoor terraces and dining to the popular river precinct.

In an area where the number of people in the economic catchment is set to double in the next 15 years, the council is demanding a North West and South West rail link arrive in time for the construction of the proposed western Sydney airport.

Council believes the western Sydney airport will be a “gamechanger” and desperately needs to be linked to the Penrith region by rail.

The council would also like to see parts of the existing western Sydney rail network enhanced, to lessen travel times — a sticking point for mayor Karen McKeown.

Deputy mayor Ross Fowler said the list of key projects was a combination of the council listening to the community and acknowledging where development is heading in and around the region.

“We are actually working really well with both levels of government, state and federal, at the moment,” Cr Fowler said.

“They see us as a progressive, go-ahead type of city and an organisation that is bold enough to say what we want.

“But we also make sure we’re not just asking things that are impossible, we are asking things and putting a good deal of reason behind the request.”

Penrith Council has already engaged with the higher levels of government to ease major traffic congestion, specifically along Mulgoa Rd, between Glenmore Park and Andrew Rd.

Penrith Mayor Karen McKeown with actor Ian Zammit and Peter Anderson from the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre in Penrith. They all want extra funding for the arts. Picture: Adam Taylor

Assistant general manager Craig Butler thanked the State Government for its $5 million contribution to plan the upgrade but reiterated 87 per cent of residents rely on cars to get to work.

“Plans should be ready for the Mulgoa Rd upgrade in the middle of 2016,” he said.

Transformation of the city is key in council’s view and will require additional commuter parking spaces, upgraded sport facilities, cooling around Penrith and the delivery of a City Park, where Allen Pl is.

Traffic backs up on Glenmore Parkway for drivers wanting to turn onto Mulgoa Rd.

The council also wants assistance from the Federal Government to have the 3.66ha former defence site released in order to create the Health Link Precinct.

Further funding of roughly $4.5 million is a must to help update The Joan with another $1 million over three years requested to revitalise culture in the area.

Cr Fowler said: “I am looking forward to some exciting announcements as we go into the future.”

Allen Pl in Penrith is set to become a city hub, with hotels, restaurants and open green spaces.

Politicians in favour of plan for upgrades

FEDERAL Liberal MP for Lindsay, Fiona Scott, has welcomed Penrith Council’s concise plans for the future and agreed with the need for crucial upgrades throughout the region.

“I wholeheartedly support Penrith Council advocating on behalf of our community because for too long, too much bad planning has happened,” Ms Scott told the Penrith Press.

“In the early 2000s Bob Carr made the comment ‘Sydney is full’ and the former Labor State Government built essentially dormitory suburbs in outer metropolitan regions and didn’t create the jobs.”

Ms Scott says many parts of busy Mulgoa Rd are dangerous. There have many accidents at the Mulgoa Rd and Jamison Rd intersection.

Ms Scott said now “is a great time for Penrith” and while she supports all projects, her main focus is creating further infrastructure links to the area, increasing jobs, and alleviating the pressure to commute.

Ms Scott said she had advocated for road upgrades with a $3.66 billion infrastructure plan and was working to get Mulgoa Rd improved, giving $35 million to the State Government for the stage one upgrade.

Ms Scott said she wants to see infrastructure linked to the Sydney Science Park for job opportunities and felt relieved when Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull confirmed a train line would be connected to the new airport.

“People deserve the right to live, work and play where they live,” she said.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull pictured with Lindsay Federal MP Fiona Scott in Penrith this month.

Labor candidate for Lindsay Emma Husar told the Press she thought the council had come up with “several good ideas”.

“I will always applaud council on taking the initiative they do to (improve) the city for the residents,” Ms Husar said.