Council reveals $397 million WestInvest wish list

Thursday, 18 August 2022

Penrith City Council is calling for additional funding to realise aspirational projects that will create a more connected, liveable and walkable community.

Council has submitted a list of 37 projects worth $397 million to be considered for the $2 billion available to 15 councils and communities under the NSW Government’s $5 billion WestInvest program.

The list includes an Indoor Multi-Sports Stadium at Claremont Meadows ($106 million), a City Park and Entertainment Precinct for St Marys ($21 million) and the Weir Reserve Rowing and Paddle Sports Precinct ($34.7 million).

Penrith Mayor Tricia Hitchen said the projects put forward are grounded in identified Council strategies, developed through extensive consultation with community members and designed to meet the City’s long-term needs and goals.

“Council estimates that by 2036 the population of our Local Government Area (LGA) will grow by another 70,000 residents meaning now is the time to enhance our community facilities and build additional infrastructure to keep pace with this growth, and to ensure Penrith continues to be the best place to live, work and play,” Cr Hitchen said.

“The plans we have identified as priority projects complement existing work and speak to the vision we have for the City,” she said.

“Many of these projects form part of our Sport and Recreational Strategy, a 15-year road map of improving sport, play, recreation and open space facilities across our City, while others sit within Council’s Green Grid Strategy, which ensures we create cool, green spaces and connect these to active transport links.”

On the wish list are several projects from our Green Grid Strategy, including the $2.8 million construction of a new shared walk and cycle pathway and tree planting on Debrincat Avenue, North St Marys, to Glossop Street, to provide a critical link connecting residents to schools, shops and transport.

Council is also prioritising a City Park and Entertainment Canopy in the heart of St Marys as a vibrant space to meet and relax. This will boost the local economy and align with other city-shaping projects coming to the eastern city centre, such as the Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport rail link, which will start at St Marys.

Plans for a multi-court indoor sports stadium will build on the development of the Gipps Street Recreation Precinct to bring a universally designed facility to the community, set to include 10 multi-sport courts and various features to accommodate a range of sporting codes with the view of hosting local, regional, state and even national sporting events.

In Penrith, Council will construct a new rowing and paddle sports precinct to provide more sport and recreation opportunities along the Nepean River. The masterplan will include boatsheds and activate the river’s edge by connecting the public to the water via local rowing, canoeing, kayaking, dragon boating and outrigger clubs.

Council’s planned Nursery Upgrade and Cumberland Plain Improvement Project, worth $4.6 million, is set to increase plant production to support new and existing programs to green our City.

“Through extensive community consultation and planning, Council has heard the needs of residents and is clear on how we can improve liveability and create a more connected, sustainable, accessible and enjoyable City to serve current and future generations,” Cr Hitchen said.

“We welcome the opportunity to fast-track the delivery of these aspirational projects and hope the NSW Government shares our vision for Penrith,” she said.

Other wish list projects include amenity buildings at various locations across the City, 21 playspace upgrades worth $6 million and City-wide accessible bus shelters, set to cost $8 million.

See the full list of projects Council has submitted for the WestInvest program below.

Information contained within this news release was correct as at Thursday, 18 August 2022.