Campbelltown City Council has been included as a regional city centre by the State Government’s new metropolitan planning strategy – A Plan for Growing Sydney.
Mayor of Campbelltown, Councillor Paul Lake, hailed the decision as a victory for Campbelltown and said veteran council general manager Paul Tosi deserved the credit.
“Although only just published, an initial review of the plan indicates that Campbelltown and the south west features prominently,’’ Cr Lake said.
“By recognising the Campbelltown CBD in its own right as a Regional City Centre, the plan acknowledges the area’s role in supporting the surrounding community, and will help cement Campbelltown as the capital of the Macarthur region.’’
Minister for Planning Pru Goward released the plan today and it confirmed Campbelltown, Liverpool and Penrith as Regional City Centres.
“With the continued focus on the South Western Sydney for greenfield development, these new communities need to access a broad range of services, and Campbelltown will play a major role in servicing these communities into the future,’’ Cr Lake said.
“With significant existing infrastructure, including hospitals, tertiary education, regional shopping facilities, significant regional sporting facilities and major transport links, Campbelltown is well-positioned as a Regional City Centre, and has established itself as a city of choice and opportunity in a natural environment.
“As part of the plan, there will be a major focus on employment, services and transport connections for the Campbelltown area, bringing more local jobs and less need to travel into the city – a shift that will be welcomed by residents across the region and one that will support economic growth in the area.
“As one of only three Regional City Centres located outside of the Sydney and Parramatta CBDs, Campbelltown will be in a position to attract a range of new business, government, health, cultural, retail and recreational opportunities to support our growing population.
“Another important element of the new plan is the identification of an urban investigation area in the southern and south western part of the Campbelltown Local Government Area, stretching into Wollondilly Shire. This means that future greenfield development potential will be investigated.
“I would like to thank the State Government, and in particular; Member for Campbelltown, Bryan Doyle; Member for Wollondilly, Jai Rowell; and Member for Camden, Chris Patterson; for their continued focus on Campbelltown and the Macarthur region.
“I also want to thank Campbelltown City Council’s General Manager, Paul Tosi. He has worked tirelessly to promote the city over the years, and it is because of his efforts that Campbelltown is now recognised as a Regional City Centre.
“We look forward to improved transport connections between and within the major urban areas and destinations, including Badgerys Creek Airport, the South West Growth Centre and the Campbelltown to Liverpool urban corridor, and the ongoing support of the State Government to help Campbelltown and the Macarthur region grow to its full potential,” Cr Lake said.
Planning Minister Pru Guward said A Plan for Growing Sydney, will reinvigorate key Sydney suburbs with more choice of homes linked to improved public transport and access to services like shops, restaurants and education and health facilities.
“It is time to take action to realise the community’s ambition for the greatest city in the world – and A Plan for Growing Sydney is the roadmap,” the minister said.
Some of the Plan’s key actions include:
Shifting the city’s gravity from east to west by establishing Parramatta as a major CBD, alongside the Sydney CBD, for jobs and world-class shopping and entertainment;
Creating vibrant new neighbourhoods with access to local jobs and first-class local amenities by renewing the area between Greater Parramatta and the Olympic Peninsula;
Delivering the Sydney Green Grid project to link open space across the Greater Metropolitan area.
“This is our picture for a greater Sydney and will help Sydneysiders get the most out of their neighbourhoods, their region and their city,” Ms Goward said.
The plan includes 59 specific actions to deliver, many of which will be
implemented by the Greater Sydney Commission over time.
“This is different to other plans – it is measurable, it is deliverable and there is unprecedented opportunity for the community to get involved,” Ms Goward said.
“This is a new way of delivering for our city – working side-by-side with communities and councils to deliver plans for Sydney’s regions.
“The Greater Sydney Commission will oversee the implementation of the plan and be responsible for making sure its actions are implemented.’’
For more information go to www.planning.nsw.gov/sydney.
