Mayor of Blacktown City Council, Brad Bunting, has welcomed the NSW Government's new 20-year plan for Sydney and its focus on bringing more jobs closer to people living in Western Sydney.
Mayor Bunting said the Sydney Plan reinforced the need to connect Western Sydney's growing communities with its future employment centres.
"We welcome the NSW Government's long-term plan for Sydney and its strong focus on creating more jobs in Western Sydney," Mayor Bunting said.
The Sydney Plan outlines how the city will accommodate an additional 1.3 million people, at least 800,000 homes and approximately 950,000 jobs by 2046.
It forecasts a 59% increase in Western Sydney jobs, from 475,000 in 2026 to 755,000 in 2046, underpinned industrial development and emerging economic centres, and Western Sydney Airport.
Mayor Bunting said that "Blacktown City will continue to play an important role in providing the homes Sydney needs. As our communities grow, we want to work with the NSW Government to make sure that growth is supported by better public transport, roads, schools, health services, parks and community facilities.
"Bringing jobs closer to home must go hand in hand with better transport connections across Western Sydney. It is that simple. Better public transport will give local people greater access to employment and more time with their families instead of spending hours travelling to work."
The Sydney Plan identifies a major housing and employment corridor extending from Bradfield and St Marys through Marsden Park to Tallawong. It anticipates further housing diversity and employment growth along the corridor, including a stronger retail and industrial role for Marsden Park.
Mayor Bunting said the Plan's acknowledgement of the Bradfield-Tallawong corridor, and the housing and employment growth planned along it, added further weight to the case for extending Sydney Metro from Tallawong to St Marys.
"The Government has acknowledged this corridor as an important part of Sydney's future. Connecting Tallawong and St Marys would create a vital link between north-west and western Sydney, improving access to the new airport, Bradfield and employment opportunities for growing and established communities across our region."
"We welcome the NSW Government's investment in the business case for this missing connection and look forward to working with the Government as that work progresses.
The Sydney Plan also identifies further housing opportunities around Rouse Hill-Tallawong, along the T1 rail corridor through Seven Hills and Blacktown, and in centres including Mount Druitt and Riverstone.
The Plan also renews the focus on access to quality parks and open spaces, more trees and better-connected waterways, helping to create cooler, more liveable communities.
Blacktown City Council will consider the detailed implications of the Sydney Plan, including the requirement to maintain 30 years of feasible housing capacity. Council will also seek clarity on how the new affordable housing contribution scheme requirements align with work already undertaken through the Western Sydney Planning Partnership.
"Blacktown City is ready to play its part in Sydney's future. We want to make sure our residents see the benefits through good local jobs, shorter journey times and the infrastructure that growing communities need," Mayor Bunting said.
