Western Sydney City Deal ‘just the start’ for Macarthur
THE Western Sydney City Deal sets out the Macarthur region’s infrastructure plans for decades to come and establishes rail connections to the Western Sydney Airport as well as money to fast track housing strategies.
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IT’S the deal that sets out the Macarthur region’s infrastructure plans for decades to come and establishes rail connections to the Western Sydney Airport.
The Western Sydney City Deal, a 20-year agreement between all levels of government, sets out a plan for significant rail infrastructure and housing delivery strategies across what will be known as the Western Parkland City.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, flanked by the mayors of eight Western Sydney Councils, including Camden, Campbelltown and Wollondilly, signed the deal at Werrington Corporate Centre this morning.
The centrepiece of the agreement was the announcement of the north-south rail link which, when completed, will connect Macarthur Station to the Western Sydney Airport.
The first stage of the project will be construction of a rail link from St Marys to the airport while the Federal and State Government’s will each contribute $50 million to investigation of the full link between Schofields and Macarthur Station as well as a connection from Leppington to the airport.
A rapid bus service will be established in Campbelltown to ensure a public transport connection to the Western Sydney Airport when it opens in 2026.
Under the deal, Macarthur’s councils will receive $2.5 million in payments to help fast track development of local environment plans and other housing strategies as part of a larger plan to build 184,500 homes over the next 20 years across western Sydney.
The State Government and local councils will also develop a 5G strategy which will include a partnership with a telecommunications provider to trial the technology.
Campbelltown Mayor George Brticevic said the north-south rail link was among the most important pieces of infrastructure to be included in the deal.
“The second stage coming to Macarthur is very important because at first it wasn’t considered and we pushed very hard for that to happen,” he said.
Cr Brticevic said establishing a 5G network would help attract business to Campbelltown’s CBD.
“Any roll out of a network like that would start in the CBDs so it would be a great thing for businesses to leverage,” he said.
“There’s also a commitment to an indigenous business hub within the deal and I think we (Campbelltown) would be well positioned to put our hat in the ring for that.
“This announcement was just the beginning and will really lay out the groundwork for what is to come in the future.”
Wollondilly Mayor Judith Hannan said a $150 million Liveability Program and a commitment to an agribusiness precinct within the deal was an exciting opportunity for Wollondilly Shire.
The Liveability Program provides funding for councils to improve community facilities.
“This is just the start of a 20-year process,” she said.
“I’m excited about the Liveability Program, we can access funds to put together a project that will have an impact on the region.
“There will be an agribusiness precinct established and we’ll certainly be looking to benefit from that.”
Other features of the deal include a Western Sydney Centre of Innovation in Plant Sciences to be established at the Australian Botanic Garden Mt Annan and the creation of a strategy to restore and protect the South Creek corridor from Narellan to the Hawkesbury as part of an environmental spine for the Western Parkland City.
An implementation plan for the deal will be put together this year detailing how and when the Western Sydney City Deal projects will be delivered.