Reimagine the future, but let’s not ignore current problems

Strategic plans are good for providing a vision for the future but must not come at the expense of neglecting current challenges, argues DR GEORGE GREISS*.

Before we talk about where Campbelltown is going, we need to be honest about where we are and how we got here.

Campbelltown was first identified as a regional centre in the 1945 County of Cumberland Planning Scheme, envisioned to support industrial and commercial growth and reduce Sydney’s over-reliance on its urban core.

Yet by 1957, urban planner Denis Winston noted that little progress had been made.

Still, he reaffirmed Campbelltown’s potential and called for the creation of a “really imaginative” new town.

What followed was a series of well-researched, carefully considered plans – at city, regional, and local levels, each seeking to guide Campbelltown’s evolution.

Again and again, these plans imagined a self-contained city: one with housing, jobs, services, and infrastructure, a city that could stand on its own while anchoring the broader Macarthur region.

And I have no doubt: another plan is just around the corner.

In New South Wales, strategic planning follows a familiar rhythm: strategies are released, visions are drawn, and growth is forecast – though, too often, the outcomes fall short.

Yet despite the repetition, this cycle still matters. Because we should never stop being “really imaginative”, always reimagining a better city, a better future, and a better life.

Perhaps the next plan will be the one that delivers. Perhaps this time, government investment will not only bring more housing, but real growth, employment opportunities, essential services, community infrastructure.

Let’s keep that dream alive. Let’s keep pushing and planning for our utopia.

But we must also remember the difference between utopian ideals and lived reality. As we look forward, we cannot afford to sacrifice the present. Too often, visionary strategies focus on distant transformation while everyday challenges go unresolved.

A city successful is not just measured by ambition, it’s measured by the quality of daily life.

Access to a good quality of life isn’t a bonus. It’s the bedrock of an equitable city and it can’t wait for “Macarthur 2040’’ or whatever name the next grand plan carries.

After all, Campbelltown’s target of 10,500 new dwellings is due by 2029. If we are serious about meeting that target, then the infrastructure and services that support those homes must be treated with equal urgency, not as an afterthought, but as a core commitment.

The best plans honour both the future we hope for and the lives we live today, grounded in care, equity, and realism. When everyday needs are delayed in favour of distant promises, communities begin to disengage and trust in the system erodes.

So, before we look too far ahead, let’s map where we are. Let’s start with what our people need now. Because only when we centre today’s realities can we plan a future that’s truly worth striving for.

*Dr George Greiss is the former Mayor of Campbelltown, with over 16 years of experience in local government leadership. He holds a PhD in Urban Planning and a Master of Property Development. George is now the Director of BGA Planning Strategies, an urban planning and local government consultancy advising on development, land use, housing policy, and undertaking independent urban research across NSW. A passionate advocate for place-based planning and community-led development, he remains committed to shaping better urban outcomes through local engagement and evidence-based policy.