Advocacy Priorities

Council is creating the future of Penrith through focused advocacy and planning – a place with good jobs and good connections, supporting the people who live in one of Australia's fastest growing regions. At the 10 February 2025 Ordinary Meeting, Council endorsed a series of advocacy priorities. See a summary of these priorities below.

What is advocacy?

Advocacy is the process of influencing others to create change. It is often aimed at decision makers to make positive changes to public policy or resourcing for community benefit.

Advocacy by local government seeks to drive change in NSW and Australian Government policy and steer investment towards ensuring local priorities are supported. Strong relationships and strategic partnerships are critical to our organisation’s advocacy activities. Effective advocacy requires the proponents to have a clear understanding of the issue or challenge, and ideas on how to address these that can be clearly communicated.

All advocacy activities are guided by the following principles:

• Community-based
• Evidence-based
• Strategically aligned
• Solution-oriented
• Proactive, not reactive

How have the priorities been chosen?

A strong evidence base of Council strategies and plans has contributed to this strategy. It is closely aligned with the recently endorsed Penrith Community Strategic Plan 2036+ (CSP). The relevant priority projects and infrastructure identified within this document is the result of evidence gathering, research, technical inputs and consultation through Council’s various strategies and plans, such as the 2020 Penrith Local Strategic Planning Statement (LSPS) and Places of Penrith Strategic Framework.

What are Council's advocacy priorities?

Penrith Council adopted the following advocacy priorites at the 10 February 2025 Ordinary Meeting and is calling for federal and state investment and policy change to support sustainable growth, and achieve the best outcomes for our community. 

Roads
Our proposed Advocacy Priorities encompass critical city-shaping projects, particularly in road infrastructure. Key projects include the Castlereagh Connection and Werrington Arterial Stage 2. These improvements are essential to enhance connectivity and manage the increased traffic that comes with our growing population, ensuring that residents can navigate our City efficiently.

Transport: Sydney Metro
The Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport is a transformative transport initiative that we have passionately advocated for. This infrastructure is set to unlock new social and economic opportunities for Penrith and the broader Western Sydney region.

Flooding
Tackling flooding is a top priority for us. We’re actively working to enhance flood planning policies and make sure evacuation plans are up-to-date and effective. One of our goals is to lift the limit on housing in the Penrith City Centre. This change will help us create smarter urban planning and better manage flood risks in the area.

Housing
Housing availability and affordability are central challenges that we are tackling head-on. Our advocacy planning is designed to support sustainable housing developments that create jobs and assist our growing community. Equitable infrastructure funding models will also be pursued to ensure that growth is managed responsibly.

St Marys
We’re committed to advancing projects identified in the St Marys Master Plan. This commitment reflects our dedication to creating vibrant and accessible community spaces that cater to the needs of local residents.

Orchard Hills
In Orchard Hills, we are advocating for quality greenfield development accompanied by the necessary supporting infrastructure. This initiative is crucial to ensure that new developments are sustainable and enhance the liveability of the area.

Liveability
Ultimately, enhancing liveability in Penrith is at the heart of our advocacy efforts. Projects such as the development of Penrith Lakes are designed to enrich our community’s quality of life. As we progress, we will continue to ensure that our community has access to safe, enjoyable, and well-resourced environments.