Property Council Western Sydney Regional Director Ross Grove made the call ahead of the region's flagship start-of-year property forum - the Property Council Western Sydney Outlook - taking place tomorrow morning at Rosehill Racecourse.
Mr Grove said Luddenham Road is a key north-south spine through the Aerotropolis, connecting major State Significant Development sites and Celestino's Sydney Science Park.
"Luddenham Road is currently slated for an interim upgrade after 2030, with a business case for a full upgrade beyond 2040. Investor interest in the area means we need to bring this road ahead of what was initially planned," Mr Grove said.
"Approvals for employment uses are coming through, and we need a road network that lets freight and people move safely and efficiently - that starts with recategorising Luddenham Road to a state road, and then funding a staged upgrade program."
The Property Council's Luddenham Road Action Plan calls for:
- fast-tracking road recategorisation within 60 days of the Airport opening, transferring maintenance, control, and future upgrades to the State.
- intersection upgrades at Elizabeth Drive to meet current and future traffic volumes.
- funding for staging, design and delivery, including separate co-funding and contributions-offset pathways outside the draft HPC works-in-kind framework, so industry can bring forward delivery to unlock investment sooner.
In its Pre-Budget Submission, the Property Council is also calling for the creation of a Western Sydney Employment Lands Delivery Fund to help bridge infrastructure gaps where upgrade costs exceed a developer's state contributions liability.
The submission proposes recurrent funding starting at $150 million per year, escalating to $250 million per year over five to seven years, subject to industry take-up.
Mr Grove said the submission also called on the NSW Government to future-proof major infrastructure by securing corridors early, including moving now on future corridor acquisition for the St Marys to Tallawong Rail Link before costs rise further.
"Western Sydney has benefitted from more than $20 billion in nation-building investments to make the Airport and Western Sydney Aerotropolis a success - connecting the last portions of the road network is critical to maximising the return on this taxpayer investment," he said.
The submission also highlights apartment feasibility pressures in Western Sydney. It recommends a Western Sydney Growing Communities Fund to support councils that choose to pause local contributions on apartments during the Housing Accord period, with tailored agreements to offset foregone revenue and support timely commencements and completions.
With Western Sydney International Airport set to open this year and Bradfield City Centre gaining momentum, the Property Council's Western Sydney Outlook will focus on what it will take to move precincts into build mode, including clearer infrastructure sequencing, workable funding settings, and a pathway through today's feasibility constraints.
Speakers include Ken Morrison, CEO of the Bradfield Development Authority, Sophie Ale from Stockland, Adrian Villella from Urbis, Kylie Powell from Penrith City Council and Matthew Ramaley from Ingham Property. More details on the website.
