Penrith projects set to benefit from fast-tracked assessments

Determination on two significant developments; Mamre Precinct and Penrith Resource Recovery Facility have been prioritised to boost investment in the economy and create more than 5000 jobs.

The Mamre Precinct Rezoning plan would see the delivery of 850 hectares of industrial land in the Western Sydney Aerotropolis. Other features of the plan include protection of a potential intermodal terminal, Southern Link Road corridor, and environmental lands that will contribute to creating a green network with cycle and pedestrian links.

As a major stakeholder in the project, Council has worked closely with the NSW Department of Planning, Industry & Environment (DPIE) throughout the planning process to ensure the adequate supply of industrial lands for Penrith’s future. The project is estimated to cost $2.6 billion and would create over 5,000 jobs. Penrith New West is home to 4200ha of prime, developable land well serviced by current and future infrastructure.

Penrith Resource Recovery Facility was selected in the first tranche of the DPIE's Planning System Acceleration Program. NSW Waste Recycling proposed the construction of a waste transfer station at a cost of $1.76 million. The facility will have the capacity to sort, store and dispatch up to 180,000 tonnes of non-putrescible waste such as glass, paper, and garden waste per annum. After the applicant amended the proposal to make the facility fully enclosed and removed waste processing functions outside of receiving and sorting, the proposal was approved on 15 May 2020.

When announcing the acceleration program in April, Planning and Public Spaces Minister Rob Stokes highlighted "This is not a greenlighting exercise, the same stringent checks, balances and community consultation that ensures transparency, public benefit and merit-based assessment of projects remain".

Projects have been selected based on three essential criteria: whether the project creates jobs, if project commencement can begin within six months, and if the project delivers or supports public benefits.

Click here for more information on the Planning System Acceleration Program.

Image: Penrith has over 4,000 hectares of developable land available.