1. Realising the 30-minute city by delivering public transport for the Western Parkland City

• Significant progress has been made towards the delivery of Stage 1 of Sydney Metro Greater West (formerly known as North South Rail Link) — from St Marys to the Western Sydney Aerotropolis (formerly known as the Badgerys Creek Aerotropolis) via Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport — with the $100 million jointly funded business case underway. Construction will commence in 2021 and strategic transport planning will set the direction for a broader network and rapid bus corridors.
• Stage 1 of Sydney Metro Greater West will be operational by 2026, as the beginning of what will form the spine of the Western Parkland City and transform connectivity throughout the region.
• The Australian Government announced $3.5 billion to develop the first stage of Sydney Metro Greater West and the NSW Government announced a contribution of $2 billion over the next four years to the project as part of its commitment to joint funding.

2. Creating 200,000 jobs by supercharging the Western Parkland City

• The Western City and Aerotropolis Authority has been established as master planner and master developer of the Aerotropolis, with the chair and all of the members of the Board appointed.
• The Stage 1 Western Sydney Aerotropolis: Land Use and Infrastructure Implementation Plan was released for consultation.
• The $5 million Investment Attraction Fund was launched.
• The Western Sydney Investment Attraction Office was established in Liverpool.
• The NSW Government has signed over 13 Memoranda of Understanding with Aerotropolis ‘foundation participants’. These include investment agreements with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Hitachi, Urban Renaissance Agency (Japan), Vitex Pharmaceuticals, Northrop Grumman, 18 NSW space-focused small and medium-sized enterprises, Sydney Markets and the University of Sydney.
• An agreement has also been signed with the NUW Alliance (Universities of Newcastle, NSW and Wollongong) and Western Sydney University to establish a higher education presence in the Aerotropolis by 2026.
• An Indigenous Business Hub has been established in an interim location to deliver coordinated business support services to grow a thriving Indigenous business sector.
• NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission (NDIS Commission) opened in Penrith providing up to 160 local jobs.
• An Agribusiness Precinct Feasibility Study was released. It showed that there is great potential to capitalise on Western Sydney’s existing peri-urban agriculture sector, to leverage the opportunities arising from the Aerotropolis and create 14,500 jobs over 10 years. Future development of the Agribusiness precinct will be led by the Western City and Aerotropolis Authority.

3. Skilling our residents in the region and initiating new education opportunities

• The NUW Alliance (University of Newcastle, University of NSW Sydney, University of Wollongong), Western Sydney University and the NSW Government signed a Statement of Intent to jointly deliver a world-class higher education and research presence specialising in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) by 2026.
• A temporary TAFE Skills Exchange has been established on Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport to provide local training for the workers needed to construct the airport.

4. Respecting and building on local character, enhancing liveability and improving the quality of the local environment

• The $170 million Liveability Program was launched and successful council projects from the first round of applications for funding commenced in early 2019. This program will give Western Parkland City communities new and redeveloped parks, sports facilities, rejuvenated town centres and cultural spaces.

5. Coordinated and innovative approaches to planning and delivery of housing

• A Planning Partnership has been established, drawing together representatives of all eight Western Parkland City councils as well as Blacktown Council, and representatives from the NSW Department of Planning and Environment, Transport for NSW, Sydney Water and the Greater Sydney Commission. This partnership will achieve more efficient and higher quality outcomes for communities.
• The Project Agreement was signed covering the Australian Government’s $15 million contribution for the Western Sydney Housing Package to streamline planning and housing development.

6. Getting on with delivering for the Western Parkland City through enduring tri-level governance

• Tri-level governance through the Leadership Group, Implementation Board and Coordination Committee (meeting regularly since April 2018) has been established to oversee the delivery of the City Deal.
• An Implementation Plan—which clearly articulates how and when the commitments of the City Deal will be delivered and how their progress will be measured—was released in December 2018. Agreed by the three tiers of government, this document supports greater public awareness and understanding of the shared vision for Western Sydney in practical terms.
• Annual reports will enable the community to track the City Deal’s progress and be confident in the Western Parkland City’s long-lasting success.

The Western City District Plan, prepared by the Greater Sydney Commission in collaboration with the eight councils of the Western City, is the blueprint for the coordination of land use and infrastructure in Sydney’s third city over the next 20 to 40 years. The Western City District Plan sets the boundary of the Western Sydney City Deal.

Western Sydney City Deal

Western Sydney Mayors on the City Deal

Deliver rail for the Western City

The Australian and NSW governments will deliver the first stage of Sydney Metro Greater West (formerly the North-South Rail Link) from St Marys to Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport and the Western Sydney Aerotropolis.

As a first step, the NSW Government will protect suitable corridors for future rail connections in Western Sydney. Both governments will contribute up to $50 million each to a business case process, in consultation with local government. This will include investigation of integrated transport and delivery options for a full Sydney Metro Greater West corridor from Schofields to Macarthur and a South West Rail Link to connect Leppington to the Western Sydney International Airport via an interchange at the Western Sydney Aerotropolis.

The Australian and NSW governments will be equal partners in funding the first stage of the Sydney Metro Greater West (formerly the North South Rail Link) and have a shared objective to connect rail to Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport in time for opening, informed by the business case.

Rapid Bus services for Western City

The NSW Government will establish rapid bus services from the metropolitan centres of Penrith, Liverpool and Campbelltown to the Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport before it opens in 2026, and to the Western Sydney Aerotropolis.

Western City Digital Action Plan

Local governments will lead the development of a Western City Digital Action Plan in collaboration with the Australian and NSW governments, and industry partners.

Smart Western City Program

The NSW Government will deliver a Smart Western City Program to enable NSW agencies to embed interoperable smart and secure technology – such as transport and utility monitoring systems – into new infrastructure as it is rolled out.

5G Strategy

The NSW and local governments will develop a 5G strategy for the Western Parkland City, which will include partnering with a telecommunications carrier to deliver a trial of 5G technology.

Openly available data sets

NSW and local governments will explore, identify and make data publicly available in line with open-data principles. To facilitate this, the Australian Government will establish a Western Parkland City data catalogue on data.gov.au and NationalMap, and support local governments to fully utilise the platform. Better access to local data has the potential to drive innovation and improved service delivery across the Western Parkland City.

Western Sydney Aerotropolis

The Australian, NSW and local governments will work together to establish a Western Sydney Aerotropolis (formerly the Badgerys Creek Aerotropolis) as a world-class city precinct that supports jobs growth. The Australian Government will enable the development of 114 hectares of Commonwealth land at North Bringelly, to accelerate jobs growth and help build the new Western Parkland City.

The NSW Government will establish an enabling infrastructure program on the Commonwealth land to kick-start servicing of the precinct.

Western Sydney Development Authority

The Australian and NSW governments have established the Western City Aerotropolis Authority as the master planner and master developer of the Aerotropolis with an initial focus on the Commonwealth land.

Western Sydney Investment Attraction Office

The NSW Government, with the Australian Government and local governments, have established the Western Sydney Investment Attraction Office in Liverpool to attract domestic and international investment. Its initial focus will be on the Aerotropolis, as well as supporting existing industrial areas and employment centres.

Investment Attraction Fund

The NSW Government have established an Investment Attraction Fund to support the work of the Investment Attraction Office.

Establish jobs in the region

The Australian Government has established the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Quality and Safeguards Commission in Penrith, creating 160 new jobs in Western Sydney.

High-value employment precincts

The NSW Government will deliver a Land Use and Infrastructure Implementation Plan (LUIIP) and an associated State Environmental Planning Policy to set the planning framework for the Aerotropolis and the broader Western Sydney Airport Growth Area. These policies will identify key employment precincts, and safeguard the operation of the Western Sydney Airport.

The Stage 1 Land Use and Infrastructure Implementation Plan (PDF 7.5 MB) was released in August 2018 and the community consultation report (PDF 4.7MB) was released in September 2019. The Stage 2 Land Use and Infrastructure Implementation Plan is expected to be released late 2019.

Surplus government land to drive jobs growth

The Australian Government will release the Penrith Multi-User Depot for sale, to be used to support jobs growth in the Penrith CBD.

The NSW and local governments will review government land and explore opportunities for release of surplus or underutilised land and assets to drive economic growth.

Agribusiness precinct

The NSW Government commissioned a feasibility study into an agribusiness precinct for the Western Parkland City. The Western Sydney Aerotropolis Agribusiness Precinct report (PDF 5 MB) has been released by the NSW Government.

Indigenous business hub

The Australian Government has established an Indigenous Business Hub in the Western City, to capitalise on the opportunity for Indigenous businesses and entrepreneurs. The Hub located in Liverpool will deliver coordinated business support services to support a thriving Indigenous business sector.

Indigenous small business and skills package

The NSW Government will deliver an Indigenous small business and skills package across the Western Parkland City, including a newly established Opportunity Hub in Liverpool and an expansion of the Opportunity Hub in Campbelltown to help connect Indigenous school leavers with jobs; an Indigenous Business Connect Program to support Indigenous people to start or grow a business; 50 additional Bert Evans scholarships and mentoring support for young people; and a dedicated Aboriginal Enterprise Development Officer Program.

Indigenous, social and local participation targets

The Australian and NSW Governments will work to adopt Indigenous, social and local employment and procurement targets in construction projects, including a 2.4 per cent indigenous employment target and a 3 per cent Indigenous procurement target for construction projects in the district. Details on the timing of the introduction of these targets are included in the City Deal Implementation Plan.

The NSW Government will support the introduction of these targets by increasing funding for apprenticeships and traineeships in Western Sydney, and for pre-vocational qualifications.

TAFE skills exchange near Western Sydney Airport

TAFE NSW and the Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport have established the TAFE Skills Exchange at the Airport site to provide local training for local workers needed to construct the Airport and other major projects.

Education partnership

NSW will seek to establish a partnership agreement on education to identify and deliver more education facilities for the Western Parkland City to support urban growth over time, in a manner consistent with the School Assets Strategic Plan.

STEM university

The NSW Government will call for proposals from leading global universities and industry to form part of an integrated Aerospace Institute in the Aerotropolis.

VET facility in the Aerotropolis

The NSW Government will establish a permanent VET facility in the Aerotropolis with a focus on construction, aviation and aeronautical-related engineering to support residents of the Western Parkland City to access jobs of the future.

New public high school focused on the aerospace and aviaition industries

The NSW Government will build a new public high school in the Aerotropolis with vocational links to Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport and the aerospace and aviation industries, preparing students for future job opportunities.

Western Parkland City Liveability Program

The Western Parkland City Liveability Program is a key commitment under the City Deal and has been established with contributions of $60 million each from the Australian and NSW governments, and $50 million from the eight Councils of the Western Parkland City.

The Program will support the growth of the Western Parkland City by providing essential community infrastructure. Projects will contribute to more liveable communities and deliver local facilities that promote healthy active lifestyles and support the arts, culture and creativity.

In January 2019, the Hon Alan Tudge MP, Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure and the Hon Stuart Ayres MP, NSW Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney, jointly announced projects valued at up to $149.82 million under the first round of the Program. These projects will provide vital community infrastructure and public spaces across the Western Parkland City, including parks, sporting facilities, rejuvenated town centres and art and cultural event spaces.

Ministers have recently announced a second round of the Program. Round two applications closed on 2 September 2019 for Councils (Blue Mountains City, Fairfield City, Liverpool City, and Wollondilly Shire) that did not subscribe to the full funding amount in the first round.

More information is available on the Liveability Program website.

Centre of Innovation in Plant Sciences

The NSW Government will create a Western Sydney Centre of Innovation in Plant Sciences at the Australian Botanic Garden in Mount Annan.

Restore and protect South Creek

The South Creek corridor from Narellan to Hawkesbury has been identified as an important environmental spine for the Western Parkland City. The NSW Government will develop a strategy for South Creek that will investigate its restoration and protection.

Strategic assessment under the EPBC Act

The Australian and NSW governments will progress a Strategic Assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) to protect the environment and streamline environmental approvals for development.

Western Sydney Health Alliance

Local governments, in collaboration with health partners, will establish the Western Sydney Health Alliance to improve coordination and effectiveness of health services in the region, supporting healthier neighbourhoods.

Housing targets for the Western Parkland City

The NSW Government will set and publish 5- and 20-year housing targets for each local government area to deliver at least 184,500 homes over the next 20 years consistent with the targets in the Western City District Plan.

Fast-track local housing strategies

The Australian and NSW governments will accelerate adoption of new Local Environmental Plans, and associated local housing strategies, by providing $2.5 million incentive payments to Camden, Campbelltown, Fairfield, Liverpool, Penrith and Wollondilly. New plans will be agreed within two years, and set a course to achieve local housing targets and better quality outcomes for local communities.

New Growth Area for the Greater Penrith to Eastern Creek corridor

The Australian and NSW governments will undertake land use and infrastructure planning for a new Growth Area for the Greater Penrith to Eastern Creek corridor. This will ensure new housing can be planned, delivered and integrated with new infrastructure such as schools, health care and transport.

Uniform local government engineering standards and telecommunications planning

The Australian Government will support council development of uniform, best practice local government engineering design standards to simplify the development assessment process, deliver better outcomes for local residents and reduce costs to homebuyers.

The NSW and local governments will support enhanced telecommunications and connectivity outcomes through better consideration of telecommunications needs in planning processes in line with national best practice – ensuring appropriate design for telecommunications services in new developments and the public domain.

Pilot Growth Infrastructure Compacts

The NSW Government will establish pilot Growth Infrastructure Compacts for the Western Parkland City. The compacts will coordinate planning and delivery of new housing supply and ensure that the required infrastructure is delivered as it is needed.

Western Sydney Planning Partnership

The NSW Government have created a new Western Sydney Planning Partnership with the growth councils – Liverpool, Penrith, Campbelltown, Camden, Wollondilly — in conjunction with Blacktown to achieve more efficient and higher quality outcomes.

Transport and water infrastructure models

The NSW and Australian governments will develop transport and water infrastructure models to innovatively plan for future infrastructure needs. These models will accelerate development assessment processes and streamline infrastructure delivery, and support the Growth Infrastructure Compacts.

Long-term governance

The three levels of government will establish a long-term governance arrangement. This will oversee the delivery of the City Deal and the enduring growth and sustainability of the Western Parkland City. The Implementation Board will establish mechanisms to consult with stakeholders.

Progress

A long-term governance arrangement has been established by three levels of government. This tri-level governance comprises the Leadership Group, Implementation Board and Coordination Committee. Each level of governance will meet at regular intervals during the delivery of the Deal.

The Western Sydney City Deal Delivery Office (staffed by Australian, NSW and local governments) supports the tri-level governance and delivers key commitments.

Western Sydney City Deal Implementation Plan

The three levels of government agreed to publish an Implementation Plan for the City Deal in 2018. The Implementation Plan clearly defines how these commitments will be delivered, when they will be delivered and who will be responsible.

Progress

In December 2018, the Australian, NSW and local governments agreed and released an Implementation Plan for the Western Sydney City Deal. This plan is a commitment within the City Deal and provides the detail on the delivery of each of its commitments. The City Deal contains 38 commitments and is already delivering for the Western Parkland City.

Next steps

The three levels of government will continue to work collaboratively to deliver the commitments under the City Deal.

Over the next 20 years of the City Deal, the community will be able to track its progress. Reports will be published annually and the first of these reports will be released in 2019. A formal review of the Deal will be undertaken in 2021. The review will consider priorities and next steps and will report on progress against milestones and longer-term key performance metrics.

Key performance metrics

To monitor the impact of the commitments delivered through the Western Sydney City Deal, parties will agree and publish key performance metrics in the implementation plan.

As well as measuring inputs and processes, key performance metrics will enable an assessment of the value that the City Deal produces for residents of the Western Parkland City. The development of performance measures will be an ongoing process that will evolve and adapt over time through experience and the emergence of new data. Longer-term milestones for certain projects will be determined subject to further planning.

The City Deal will be evaluated three years after its signing.

Work with Indigenous organisations to maximise opportunities

The three levels of government commit to work with Indigenous organisations in the Western Parkland City, to realise economic, social and cultural outcomes for Aboriginal people in Western Sydney.