Bold vision on display

Penrith Council’s draft Local Strategic Planning Statement (LSPS) is now on public exhibition.

This important document outlines Penrith’s land use vision for the next 20 years.

It addresses state, regional and local priorities and provides a vital bridge between our Community Plan and Penrith’s Local Environmental Plan (LEP).

By 2036, the population of Penrith is expected to reach 260,000. To manage and maximise the potential of that growth, Council needs a clear vision, a firm set of priorities and actions to address them.

The LSPS provides this big picture framework.

“Our City and our region are being transformed by game changing developments and infrastructure, including the Western Sydney Airport, Aerotropolis and the Sydney Metro Greater West (formerly known as North South Rail Link),” Penrith Mayor Ross Fowler OAM said.

“Council’s LSPS identifies how we can harness the myriad opportunities these developments represent, including greater job diversity and improved connectivity, and how we can grow without losing what we love most about our City.”

Built on comprehensive stakeholder and community consultation, the LSPS is a vision of a city that is connected, healthy, innovative and balanced.

It outlines 21 planning priorities across 10 key areas including infrastructure, partnerships, connectivity and economy.

Infrastructure

The LSPS highlights the importance of aligning development, growth and infrastructure.

Sydney Metro Greater West, the M9/Outer Sydney Orbital and rapid bus connections between Penrith and the Western Sydney International Airport are just the beginning. Council is also:

• advocating for the Castlereagh Connection to provide safer, more efficient flood evacuation and more effective links to the west
• preparing a SMART Strategy to identify how we can provide digital infrastructure throughout our city – an essential element to attract investment and create job diversity
• calling for improved water infrastructure so we can cater for growth and harness opportunity
• working with the State Government to provide more social infrastructure, including quality schools, health care, cultural facilities to attract and retain talented people, and
• examining future funding streams to provide more parks and playgrounds, all elements that are critical to our city’s future success.

Partnerships

Council continues to build on many strong and successful partnerships with key stakeholders across government and private sectors.

This includes the City Deal partnership and the opportunity it represents to transform Western Sydney. Among its commitments are key infrastructure, such as the Sydney Metro Greater West and jobs generation.

It also includes our work with:

• Roads and Maritime Service and Transport for NSW to deliver better roads and public transport
• Sydney Water to make sure we can cater for growth
• the Western Sydney Planning Partnership to unlock employment opportunities at the Western Sydney International Airport and Aerotropolis, and
• the NSW Flood Taskforce to keep our communities safe.

Connectivity

The LSPS recognises that connection means more than roads and public transport, it also means being connected digitally and socially.

To attract new businesses and new talent to Penrith, we need to create a city that is connected on all levels.

Along with supporting the Sydney Metro Greater West and providing safe and efficient public transport options, Council is working with the government to complement and leverage the potential of this infrastructure, including through strategic station locations, to better connect our communities to jobs, open space and one another.

Economy

Council recognises that to grow successfully and to attract and keep innovative businesses and talented people we need to build on the opportunities that exist and those to come. To do this we will:

• support the planning of the Western Sydney Aerotropolis, which will deliver 200,000 diverse jobs
• enhance and grow Penrith’s economic triangle, an area that encompasses the Penrith City Centre, St Marys Town Centre and the Sydney Science Park and Airport gateway
• reinforce The Quarter as a specialised health, education, research and technology precinct
• grow our tourism, arts and cultural industries, and
• boost our night-time economy.

Penrith Council’s draft Local Strategic Planning Statement is now on Public Exhibition.

Have your say online, or in person at our exhibition displays or drop-in sessions.

Comments close Monday 11 November.

Find out more about the draft Local Strategic Planning Statement.

Image: The LSPS is 20-year vision for the future of Penrith including land use, housing, infrastructure, community spaces and sustainability.