On the eve of the first passenger flights out of Western Sydney Airport, a coalition of seven councils are warning that NSW risks losing a once-in-a-generation growth opportunity unless infrastructure investment catches up with the region’s expansion.
The Outer Western Sydney Alliance (OWSA), comprising the Blue Mountains, Campbelltown, Hawkesbury, Liverpool, Penrith city councils, along with Wollondilly Shire and Camden Council, says the region’s housing and employment potential is being constrained by gaps in transport, water and sewerage infrastructure.
More than a million people live across the seven LGAs, which are expected to account for 38 per cent of Sydney’s future population growth.
OWSA chair and Penrith Mayor Todd Carney told The Urban Developer the region’s combination of a global airport, advanced manufacturing, productive agricultural land and natural assets made it distinct from the rest of Greater Sydney.
“Government often talks about Western Sydney as one place, but Outer Western Sydney plays a distinct and unique role,” he said.
The region’s economic potential is coming into sharper focus as Western Sydney International Airport prepares to open to passengers on October 25, with a Jetstar flight to the Gold Coast the first due to depart.
International passenger services are scheduled to begin the following day, an Air New Zealand flight to Auckland. Freight operations begin in July.
Carney said that the post-airport challenge would be ensuring public transport stays on track to to meet greater commuter demand across the broader region.
“There has been a lag when it comes to the infrastructure. We’ve got the airport, which is fantastic. We’ve got the first stage of the Metro going in, but it isn’t going to be completed for a while,” he said.
The 23km Sydney Metro—Western Sydney Airport line, linking the airport with St Marys for connections to the existing Sydney Trains network, was originally to open alongside the airport.
NSW Premier Chris Minns conceded in June that the line could be delayed until mid-2028.
Until then, a free shuttle bus will connect the airport with St Marys station and additional bus services will link the airport with centres including Penrith, Liverpool and Campbelltown.
“We need to make sure people can access the airport as quickly and easily as possible to reduce the dependency we currently have on our cars in outer Western Sydney,” Carney said.
He said that while outer Western Sydney generated about $59 billion in annual economic output, the state’s investment did match the scale of local growth, housing delivery and economic activity.
“We’ve had the Sydney plan released by the state government, but we need to make sure we have an infrastructure plan that is in lockstep with that,” he said.
“We’ve got 1000s of homes we can deliver now to Western Sydney, but the unfortunate part is we don't have the connectivity when it comes to the water and sewerage.
“In Penrith alone, we've got 20,000 zoned properties. We can only deliver around less than half of that, because we just don't have the amenity.”
According to OWSA data, the region has the capacity to provide about 5566ha of developable employment land, but just 176.5ha has both wastewater and B-Double-accessible roads to support development.
“Outer Western Sydney holds over two-thirds of all available undeveloped employment land and almost four-fifths of that land which is supported by essential enabling infrastructure,” Carney said.
“If NSW is going to build employment opportunities, the short and long-term potential is overwhelmingly here.
“Outer Western Sydney’s strength comes from its ... combination of assets, industries and opportunities found across the region.
“Few places bring together so many of the things NSW needs for future growth in one place.”
