Western Sydney University welcomes connectivity in NSW Government planning

Western Sydney University welcomed the focus on connecting jobs, housing and services in jointly announced plans by the Greater Sydney Commission and Transport for NSW. The respective ‘Regional’ and ‘Future Transport’ strategies outline NSW Government priorities for Greater Sydney over the coming decades.

“Cohesive and purposeful planning of this kind is pivotal in delivering demonstrable improvements on the ground,” said the University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Barney Glover.

“These plans place knowledge job creation, economic growth, wellbeing and amenity at the centre of a strategy that looks to do much more than simply zone or remotely dictate the region’s future.

“This is a truly collaborative exercise, where both the Commission and Transport continue to engage with the region in transparent, evidence-based and progressive consultation,” said Professor Glover.

The plans are particularly important for the University and its region.

With the launch in May this year of its flagship Parramatta City campus, Western Sydney University embarked on the region’s most expansive and large scale re-development program.

“Connectedness, accessibility and technology are at the heart of our strategy,” remarked Professor Glover.

“These principles are exemplified at our new campus in Parramatta Square and they will drive our new campus developments in Liverpool, opening in March next year, and our Westmead and Bankstown campuses which open in 2019 and 2021 respectively.”

The Commission’s focus on supporting ‘university towns’ at Campbelltown, Liverpool, Penrith, and across Western Sydney more broadly is a priority that Professor Glover says the University is directly and actively supporting.

“We are pivotal to making those plans a reality and will continue to work closely with the Commission to bring scale, focus and embedded regional commitment to the table.”

Professor Glover especially welcomed the centrality of Western Sydney Airport in the latest NSW Government planning iteration.

“The Airport will be operational in just nine years time. We cannot afford to delay our preparations if we are to maximise the economic and job creation opportunities it affords the region,” said Professor Glover.

“The ‘Western City’ aerotropolis and the surrounding infrastructure, industry and economic activations the Commission’s plan promotes are precisely the type of signals we need from Government.”

ENDS

23 October 2017

Media Unit