Premier proclaims no limits for the future of our state’s powerhouse
Investment of $23bn, 200,000 jobs, 100 upgraded roads, 60 overhauled schools and an “Aerotropolis”. You could be mistaken for thinking the West has been won. But The Daily Telegraph is just getting started.
Project Sydney
Don't miss out on the headlines from Project Sydney. Followed categories will be added to My News.
TWENTY-three billion dollars. Two hundred thousand jobs. More than 100 upgraded roads. Sixty overhauled schools. Shifting the Powerhouse Museum to Parramatta. And an “Aerotropolis”.
You could be mistaken for thinking the West has been won. But The Daily Telegraph is just getting started.
MORE: Famous faces light up Project Sydney Gala
Last night the state’s most-read newspaper brought the most powerful people in Australia to the Bankstown Sports Club as part of the Project Sydney gala dinner where they vowed to continue the record investment in Western Sydney.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and federal Treasurer Scott Morrison, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, federal opposition’s Anthony Albanese, NSW Opposition Leader Luke Foley and Police Commissioner Mick Fuller were among the luminaries in the room.
The only noticeable exception was federal ALP leader Bill Shorten.
It was the culmination of a three-week campaign that has put the blowtorch on the biggest issues facing areas like Fairfield — from resources for new migrants to congestion chaos.
MORE: Go West Mentorship scheme gives top 50 a head start
Ms Berejiklian said that for “too long” the region had been “neglected”. She vowed to “never rest in building a strong future for the people of Western Sydney”.
Neither will we.
PROJECT SYDNEY GALA
The nation’s most powerful players united in Bankstown last night in a pledge to keep investing in the economic powerhouse of Western Sydney — and embrace a “once in a generation” chance to create a remarkable city.
Luminaries of state and federal politics as well as high-profile celebrities were brought together by The Daily Telegraph’s Project Sydney Go West campaign to celebrate its wins while charting the $23 billion future course of the booming region.
Speaking at the gala dinner at the Bankstown Sports Club last night, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull declared that the challenge for Western Sydney is building a new city that is not only a nationally recognised economic giant, but also highly liveable.
He added that Western Sydney was the “aspirational heartland of Australia” with more than a million people set to move into the region in the next two decades.
“As we seek to accommodate and nurture that growth, we have a once in a generation opportunity to build a new city, a city capable of harnessing the spirit that calls all who settle in Western Sydney,” he said.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said last night her government had “shifted the pendulum” to Western Sydney and promised the region would never be the “last choice ever again” for people looking for jobs and a life.
“The next generation of young people won’t be looking east for the best jobs, they’ll be looking west ... and that is the kind of vision we have for Greater Western Sydney,” she said.
Since 2011 the NSW government has created 200,000 jobs in Western Sydney with $23 billion in infrastructure spending to be rolled out in the next four years.
EDITORIAL: Why Western Sydney is a powerhouse
“People told us we wouldn’t be able to turn things around, people told us Western Sydney doesn’t deserve it’s own museum … we’ve changed all that and we’ll continue to change all that because the future success of NSW lies here,” Ms Berejiklian said.
Ms Berejiklian declared to The Daily Telegraph that what is happening in Western Sydney today is “truly extraordinary”.
“Western Sydney is already Australia’s fourth-largest city and third-largest economy — a powerhouse of our state and nation — but the truth is there is no limit to what it can become,” she said.
Western Sydney is home to 25 per cent of the population of NSW — but it is creating 40 per cent of all new jobs in the state, with the “job revolution” meaning unemployment in the region has dipped under 5 per cent for the first time in a record low.
“We are investing an unprecedented $23 billion in major infrastructure for Western Sydney. That is more than twice as much as Victoria will spend on its entire state this year,” Ms Berejiklian said.
The three-week Project Sydney Go West campaign secured many significant victories for the region, including commitments from state and federal governments to fast track infrastructure around the Badgerys Creek airport site, as well as a plan to offer incentives to overseas businesses to come and invest in the air precinct.
MORE PROJECT SYDNEY:
EX-PREMIER’S PLAN TO TRANSFORM THE WEST
PARRAMATTA LIGHT RAIL FULL STEAM AHEAD
LAKEMBA MARKET ATTRACTING THOUSANDS
The Daily Telegraph also secured the firmest commitment yet from the Berejiklian government to extend the Metro further west of Parramatta and the government promised to start building stage 1 of Parramatta Light Rail before the end of the year.
The campaign’s most polarising debate was sparked by state Opposition Leader Luke Foley’s “white flight” comments. In an exclusive interview, Mr Foley voiced concerns about the crippling impact of migration on vast swathes of Western Sydney — saying Anglo families are being pushed out of suburbs such as Fairfield.
Project Sydney has called for action to ease the squeeze in Fairfield in our Action Plan for two years running.
Last night’s event attracted a glittering celebrity set including Channel 9 heavyweight Karl Stefanovic, Home and Away star Sophie Dillman as well as models Erin Holland and Tegan Martin and Western Sydney singer Thandi Phoenix.
Former premier Mike Baird, Treasurer Scott Morrison and Police Commissioner Mike Fuller were also among the heavy hitters in the crowd.
Federal Labor MP Anthony Albanese filled the place meant for Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, who declined to attend the event.
Daily Telegraph editor Chris Dore said the campaign was about celebrating the characters that put Sydney on the map while raising challenges faced by many living in the city’s heartland suburbs.
“So many corners of the west have been neglected and taken for granted for so long,” he said.
“The Daily Telegraph’s Project Sydney and our regional Fair Go For The West campaign has helped ensure you now get your fair share of attention, infrastructure and respect.
TRADIES SET FOR $500M MONEY TRAIN
NSW will pocket $500 million from the federal government to train a generation of apprentices and trainees.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro will announce the win today, after the state government signed up to the National Partnership Agreement for skills.
It comes a day after The Daily Telegraph revealed the state government had committed to a target of making 20 per cent of all tradies on government construction sites apprenticeships. The money will span five years.
“NSW is taking the lead on Vocational Education and Training (VET) by signing the new Agreement because we know how important a skilled workforce is for the future prosperity of this state,” Mr Barilaro said.
“The $500 million partnership announced today with the federal government guarantees NSW will continue to have a trusted and high quality VET sector giving young workers the opportunities and training they need to build a rewarding career.”