- Western Sydney will be home to 3 million people by 2036
- PCA has announced five key recommendations for the area
- Policy suggestions include promoting high-density living, addressing the housing crisis and investing in key city centres
Western Sydney (LGA) is home to over 2,600,000 Australians and encompasses some of the key commercial, cultural and community areas in New South Wales including Parramatta, Sydney Olympic Park, Penrith, Liverpool, Camden and Picton.
The Property Council of Australia (PCA) has announced five key recommendations for Western Sydney to future-proof the area as a primary growth region in Sydney.
The announcement comes ahead of the 2023 New South Wales state election which will elect the 58th Parliament of New South Wales and be held on Saturday 25 March 2023.
PCA’s Western Sydney Director David White has highlighted critical initiative recommendations.
1. Promoting high-density living
Mr White emphasised the need for a substantial investment in growth infrastructure to enhance the standard of living for the individuals 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.
Mr White said that knowing this it is important to ensure the region does not experience “growing pains”. He suggests that locals should be encouraged to live in high-density residences.
“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,” Mr White said.
2. Address housing affordability and rental crisis
Western Sydney Rental Vacancy Rates
“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.”
According to Mr White, the implementation of CityDeal 2.0 would be instrumental in addressing the housing affordability and rental crisis
“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, coordination and delivery of growth infrastructure to occur along future rapid transit corridors and metro rail extensions,” he said.
With the state election on the horizon, University of NSW housing experts have compiled five policy recommendations that delve further into potential solutions for the NSW housing crisis.
3. Investment in key centres
To create a diverse economy in Western Sydney, Mr White said the city centres would be key.
“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,” he said.
4. $2.3 billion roads package
The PCA is advocating for significant investment into the Western Sydney roads.
“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,” he said.
5. Address the impact of significant heat and catchment flooding
“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.”
