The Property Council of Australia has announced five
key recommendations for Western Sydney to future proof the critical area as a
primary growth region in Sydney.
Property Council’s Western Sydney Director David White
said significant investment in growth infrastructure was required to lift the
quality of living for the people who will call the region home.
“By 2036, Western Sydney will be home to 3 million
people and is Australia’s third largest economy contributing $104 billion to
gross domestic product,” Mr White said.
“Knowing this alone, we must ensure our region does
not experience growing pains.
“We can achieve this through promoting high-density
living as an attractive housing choice in Western Sydney by investing in local
parks, streetscapes, and public domain improvements.
“Edmondson Park is an emerging key town centre with
good access to shops, schools, public transport and recreation. This provides a
potential model for future centres on planned metro rail corridors.
We must also address the housing affordability and
rental crisis which is gripping Western Sydney, through the coordinated release
of housing sites and provision of more diverse housing types and tenures, such
as build-to-rent.”
Mr White said a CityDeal 2.0 would play a key role in
this.
“Continuing to invest in the current Western Sydney
City Deal as part of the Federal Government’s new City Partnerships model will
provide the framework for planning, co-ordination and delivery of growth
infrastructure to occur along future rapid transit corridors and metro rail
extensions,” he said.
“Further investment in our key centres, including the
Parramatta CBD and regional centres such as Penrith and Liverpool, will provide
more diverse jobs for Western Sydney at locations that better connect with the
region.
“We are also calling for a $2.3b roads package for the
Western Sydney Aerotropolis. Delivering the right roads will ensure development
is on the ground as the planes take off in 2026.
“Last and certainly not least, government and industry
must work together on ways to address the impact of significant heat and
catchment flooding in Northwest Sydney, through better strategic planning as
well as workable site planning controls, to increase amenity and lifestyle for
existing and future residents.”
