Stage one of the $50 million NSW Cricket Centre of Excellence at Sydney Olympic Park is well on track to be constructed by early next year thanks to the NSW Government's fast-tracked planning program.
The centre, which will be home to the NSW Blues, Sydney Thunder, Sydney Sixers and Women's Big Bash League squads, is one of dozens of projects racing forward one year on since the launch of the Planning System Acceleration Program.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes said the fast-tracked planning program was part of the Government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic to create thousands of jobs and attract billions of dollars of investment into the state's economy.
"The construction and development sectors have been vital in keeping people in jobs and supporting our economic recovery from the pandemic," Mr Stokes said.
"Of the 99 projects approved for fast-tracking, 75 percent are under construction or have had development applications lodged, which demonstrates the success of this program."
Projects also underway include:
- St Anthony of Padua Catholic College, Liverpool ($150 million, 339 jobs)
- Alex Avenue Public School, Blacktown ($43.9 million, 410 jobs)
- Bunnings Warehouse, Leppington ($22 million, 400 jobs)
- Mamre Precinct Rezoning - 850 hectares of industrial land (eight DAs lodged and one underway)
- Blacktown CBD - rezoning for mixed and commercial use (two DAs lodged and two underway)
Mr Stokes said the NSW Cricket Centre of Excellence is one of a number of fast-tracked projects creating the opportunity for more than 50,000 jobs while potentially unlocking $25 billion in investment.
"This leading sports facility in Sydney Olympic Park will help boost the performance of NSW cricketers, and will feature a main senior oval, secondary junior oval, 50 outdoor turf practice nets, a 15-lane indoor facility, elite and community change rooms, full gymnasium, rehabilitation and recovery centre and a public café," Mr Stokes said.
"Many of these fast-tracked projects, such as schools and warehouses, are being constructed in western Sydney, and are creating important jobs as our recovery from COVID-19 pandemic keeps moving forward.
"The fast-tracked assessment program is a great example of the Government's efforts to speed up the planning system and drive investment and job creation in NSW."
On top of these fast-tracked projects, the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment approved 841 planning applications since July last year, creating more than 120,000 new jobs, nearly 40,000 homes and generating almost $42 billion in investment.
The Department also cleared 81 planning proposals for land rezonings, which had been stuck in the system for more than four years in just three months from November 2020 to January 2021.
