Penrith recognised as one of Western Sydney’s key economic drivers
The State Budget has delivered additional funding for Penrith roads, emergency services, community housing and education.
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RECOGNITIONof Penrith as one of Western Sydney’s key economic drivers has been reinforced by the State Budget, which has delivered funding for roads, emergency services, community housing and education.
A further $1.4 billion has been added to the $3.5 billon roads infrastructure package already announced by the Federal Government and further funding has been allocated to both the Jane St extension and the Nepean River Green Bridge.
Construction of the bridge is expected to start in November.
One of five new Super Ambulance Stations will also be built
A new special needs school in Glenmore Park will be built and completed in 2017. Another $8 million will be spent to support and build social and community housing for the region.
A spokesman for Penrith Council said they would be seeking details.
“We are looking forward, with great anticipation, to seeing the creation of the Western Sydney we have planned and advocated for many years,” the spokesman said.
“One that has good roads, good jobs and support for the people who choose to live in one of the fastest growing regions in Australia.”
Premier Mike Baird said his government was delivering for Western Sydney.
“This vibrant region has formed the focus of our priorities in areas including housing, health, and transport,” he said. “In fact, almost one in every two transport infrastructure dollars invested by the Government has been invested in Western Sydney.”
Opposition leader John Robertson said the government’s claims they were delivering long overdue infrastructure was smoke and mirrors.
A NEW special needs school at Glenmore Park, extra Gonski funding and additional upgrades are the major projects that will be funded under the State Government’s $14.4 billion budget for education.
The new school will be on Ridgetop Drive, which will cater for children with both intellectual and physical disabilities. It will have up to 16 classrooms, a hydrotherapy pool, a multipurpose space and the latest IT equipment. Education Minister Adrian Piccoli said the Gonski agreement was also a major winner under the new budget, which was allocated an extra $230 million.
“This budget delivers on NSW’s commitment to fully fund its $1.76 billion commitment under Gonski,” he said. Other sectors promised money were vocational education, which received $1.86 billion for TAFE NSW, and early childhood education, $361 million extra.
A NEW generation of paramedics will be available at your doorstep.
Penrith will be home to a new state-of-the-art ambulance station as part of a multi-million-dollar investment in the state’s ambulance service.
One of five new super ambulance stations, which will provide an unparalleled level of service to the community, will be built at 141 High St, Penrith.
The $24.5 million has been allocated to start the construction of five new stations, with the estimated cost of building and acquiring the land for the new stations to exceed $150 million over the next five years.
NSW Ambulance Western Sydney Nepean Blue Mountains acting superintendent zone manager Jason Stone said the new station would be a great asset.
“Geographically the area has grown, the population has grown and the demand has grown around this area, so to have a new purpose-built facility located in Penrith is going to be invaluable,” Mr Stone said.
“This new facility will be a hub and some of the existing stations will be used as satellites and we will amalgamate a lot of our existing resources into the new station.”
With Penrith ambulance paramedics responding to 1300 incidents last month, Mr Stone said the current Penrith ambulance station, built in 1936, had served its purpose.
“I think this current facility is fantastic but we have outgrown it and the local demand on resources has increased exponentially over time, so we have just outgrown this station,” he said.
The new stations will cater for 145 paramedics and 30 ambulance vehicles and deliver new training, education and maintenance facilities for ambulance officers.
Penrith was selected as one of the locations due to its position in the Nepean and Blue Mountains area, its proximity to arterial roads and a major hospital.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services Stuart Ayres said this would fundamentally alter the way paramedics operated in the area.
“This is a massive win for the area. It’s a seismic shift from the way emergency services operate and for the men and women who work there they will have an ambulance station the likes of which they have never seen before,” Mr Ayres said.
“At the facility they will be able to conduct education and training.”
BUDGET WINNERS
■Penrith home for one of five new super ambulance stations
■ Nearly $2 million to upgrade Penrith Court House
■ $1.5 million for concept design and planning works for the Jane St extension
■ $4.5 million to start the construction of the Nepean River Green Bridge (below)
■ $8 million to support and build social and community housing
■ $109 million for road upgrades to support an airport at Badgerys Creek
■ $1.8 million for the “LikeMind” pilot of fully integrated community-based care for adults with mental illness in the Nepean Blue Mountains
■ New bus route: Route 688 (Emu Heights to Emu Plains and Penrith)
■ $3.22 million road upgrade to Mulgoa Rd between Regentville and Notre Dame
■ $500,000 for slope repairs on M4 at Glenbrook
■ $1.15 million in planning for M9 Outer Sydney Orbital
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