Council invites feedback on place-based vision for Penrith

Wednesday, 9 June 2021

Penrith City Council is inviting the community to help create great places across the City by providing feedback on two important strategies on public exhibition until 3 August 2021. 

The Employment Lands Strategy and Penrith Green Grid Strategy are two key components of a new strategic framework being developed by Council to provide direction on future growth across the city. 

This new strategic planning framework takes its lead from the Local Strategic Planning Statement (LSPS) to create a place-based vision for Penrith. 

The draft Penrith Green Grid Strategy, funded by the NSW Government’s Metropolitan Greenspace Program, and the draft Employment Lands Strategy are currently on public exhibition with the remaining strategies set to be released over the next 12 months.  

Penrith Mayor Karen McKeown OAM said this new strategic framework recognises and responds to the challenges and opportunities facing Penrith with place-based priorities and actions. 

“Penrith is located in one of the fastest growing regions in Australia and with this growth comes an opportunity to create and renew great places across the City,” Cr McKeown said. 

“More places to work closer to home and a greater variety of jobs are key priorities outlined in the Employment Lands Strategy, along with growing the local economy and attracting more investment.  

“The Penrith Green Grid Strategy puts forward a vision to support the creation of cool and green places across the City, and active transport by creating a walkable city that’s connected by green infrastructure,” Cr McKeown said. 

“These two strategies reflect our community’s aspirations as outlined in the LSPS and identify opportunities for Council to work towards, and advocate for. It’s important our community provides feedback during this exhibition period not only on these two strategies but at a broader level to ensure their vision for Penrith is captured.”  

“I encourage residents to view the documents, complete the online survey or come along to one of the drop-in sessions happening throughout June and July to learn more and provide feedback,” Cr McKeown said. 

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes said the Penrith Green Grid Strategy was supported by a $400,000 grant under the Metropolitan Greenspace Program.

“This strategy will help create shaded streets where people can walk to school and local shops, have fun in neighbouring parks, cycle to work and enjoy waterway corridors,” Mr Stokes said.

“It’s all part of our 50-year vision for Greater Sydney to be a city within a park, by improving connections to high quality green space between town centres, public transport hubs and residential areas.”

The draft Employment Lands Strategy and draft Green Grid Strategy are on public exhibition for eight weeks until 3 August 2021. View these documents and provide feedback at yoursaypenrith.com.au/citystrategy

Image captions:

Green Grid Strategy: Surveyor's Creek in Jamisontown is identified as a priority project in the draft Penrith Green Grid Strategy with improvements to include a shared path connection, naturalisation of the concrete channel and more tree canopy. This project is currently unfunded.

Employment Lands Strategy: The draft Employment Lands Strategy puts forward a plan to attract and enable businesses to grow local jobs, so residents can work closer to home and have a better quality of life.

Information contained within this news release was correct as at Wednesday, 9 June 2021.