Strategic approach to employment land finalised

Council has endorsed the Employment Lands Strategy (ELS) that seeks to support Penrith’s continued economic growth into the future.

The ELS provides a strategic approach to manage the City’s employment land, with the aim of ensuring Penrith has a sufficient supply of land in suitable locations to support businesses and grow employment opportunities in the city.

The strategy sets out four directions that align with the vision of Penrith as a place to live, work and invest.

• Connected - Delivering the 30-minute city, safely, efficiently and sustainably
• Healthy - Improving the health and wellbeing of residents, workers and visitors
• Innovative - Building on our strengths and attracting new enterprise
• Balanced - Protecting our environment and strengthening our resilience

The draft ELS was publicly exhibited between 8 June and 3 August, with Council seeking feedback from a range of stakeholders, including direct engagement with local businesses. Feedback to the strategy has been overwhelmingly positive. Many respondents commented on the limited availability of employment land in Sydney and the need to locate industrial land in proximity to transport connections and quality amenities.

The ELS is a key element of the city-wide strategic framework - Places of Penrith. Places of Penrith will establish a place-based vision and plans across Penrith City. This will enable the city to maximise the opportunities provided by the Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport and associated aerotropolis and metro rail line.

In addition to the ELS, Council has also finalised another element of the framework, the Green Grid strategy, which puts forward a plan to support the creation of cool and green neighbourhoods and active transport by connecting schools, public transport and town centres to green infrastructure such as green spaces, parks, water ways and bushland.