Macarthur united can become centre of attention: Greiss

The Macarthur region needs a united front to tackle its two biggest challenges: the lack of local jobs and unprecedented population growth.

Campbelltown mayor George Greiss says he taken the first step in bringing the three local councils together to discuss how to ramp up advocacy for Macarthur.

Mayor Greiss says a united Macarthur would have a better chance of receiving funding from governments.

In his monthly mayoral meeting last week, he pointed out the numbers on housing growth and local jobs.

Macarthur’s population has gone from 291,684 in 2016 to 351,816 in 2021, an increase of 21 per cent in five years.

This growth is expected to accelerate to reach 558,317 in the next 15 years.

The number of dwellings that are housing this population growth has gone from 94,071 in 2016 to 117,045 in 2021, an increase of 24 per cent and is expected to reach 170,685 in the next 15 years.

“We know that around 63 per cent of Campbelltown workers leave our city every day for work, this is also consistent with the experience of our neighbouring LGAs Camden and Wollondilly,’’ the mayor wrote.

He has now written to the other two Macarthur mayors in Wollondilly and Camden to suggest they work together.

“I’ve reached out to them, and I am hoping we will be having a meeting very soon to have a discussion about it,’’ he tells the South West Voice in Macarthur.

“I am sure it’s going to be very productive. We want to work together to remind people that while we are part of Western Sydney, we are unique here in Macarthur, and we need to look closely at what we need, and get our fair share of infrastructure, of resources, of attention.

“It’s about working together for the benefit of the region,’’ he said.

Cr Greiss believes that the three councils must pay attention to the local residents who are dealing with the delivery of the housing strategy and shouldering the burden of the State’s growth.

“Attention must be focused on developing the necessary social and physical infrastructure that our region needs to deal with this growth,’’ he wrote in the mayoral minute.

“To ensure the sustainability of this growth and continue to look after our natural environment and increase our liveability standards, we need to work collectively and with government, elected and appointed, to focus their attention on prioritising our region’s needs.

“Macarthur’s future and identity should not and cannot be lost in the bigger picture of Western Sydney growth strategy.’’