The enormous potential and vision for the Penrith Local Government Area (LGA) is being shared and celebrated as part of Penrith City Council's inaugural Positively Penrith Symposium Series.
Local businesses, investors and other organisations converged in Penrith last week for AMPLIFY PENRITH CBD, the first event of the series, to hear exciting insights from a number of speakers.
Penrith Mayor Tricia Hitchen welcomed attendees and explained how Council continues to work towards a vision for a vibrant, connected and liveable City.
"Today, we convene in the heart of a City that's undergoing a major transformation. It's exciting and bold yet based on a sound strategic framework and vision for our City," Cr Hitchen said.
"It preserves and links what makes us great, like our amazing natural assets and features, while enhancing the opportunities for new and emerging investment and growth, such as the new international airport on our border, and connection by rail from day one of operations," she said.
Cr Hitchen provided an update on Council's city-shaping projects currently underway, including City Park, Regatta Park, the Police Cottage upgrade, 131 Henry Street and the Soper Place revitalisation.
The event also marked the launch of Council's new Investment Prospectus, a comprehensive guide to the City's unique opportunities and invites government, investors, businesses and the community to collaborate, to ensure Penrith becomes a world-class City.
"It is a time of incredible growth, smart investment and increased renewal across our City," Cr Hitchen continued.
"All of this will continue to drive economic growth, provide more local jobs and job diversity, deliver better transport and access around the City, and of course enhance the lifestyle of our residents and visitors."
The MC for the event was Juanita Phillips, one of Australia's most experienced television news anchors, who expressed her excitement about Penrith's growth and the importance of shining a light on Western Sydney's transformation.
Member for Penrith Stuart Ayres spoke on Penrith's vital links to the Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport and the significant role Penrith and St Marys will play as strategic centres for Sydney.
He said the opening of the airport would shape what happens in the City, providing unprecedented opportunities for the rest of the world to access the area's two hubs.
"An international airport 15 minutes down the road, linked by a metro rail, will interchange at St Marys … it is one of the few points anywhere in Sydney where there with be north-south and east-west access by rail into the future, so St Marys is going to emerge as an incredibly important and strategic centre," Mr Ayres said.
He added that Penrith would also experience a boom through improved road networks, such as the Mulgoa Road widening, and with more small business investment bringing vibrancy to the city centre.
Council's long-term goal of bringing workers closer to home was also discussed during the event with plans to redevelop the former Council Chambers at 131 Henry Street into a workplace of the future and the planned transformation of 158-164 Old Bathurst Road, Emu Plains, into a new industrial precinct.
Keynote speaker and social demographer Mark McCrindle shared Census data which revealed Penrith's population jumped by 21,000 from 2016 to 2021, and that the City's median age is just 35 with the number of families above the national average.
He said the future was changing with younger generations looking for more than just a place to work but rather a role in an exciting area offering affordability, mobility, lifestyle and jobs close to home.
"The future will see CBDs become CLDs - instead of Central Business Districts they will become Central Lifestyle Districts, and that's why we are seeing more residential, more shopping, more entertainment and events coming into our CBDs," Mr McCrindle said.
"The vision I've seen for Penrith and what's been discussed this morning is an example of that - it's making it a lifestyle district and that I think is the future."
This event is a part of the ongoing collaboration and engagement that Council is undertaking to promote Penrith and the vision for a vibrant, connected and liveable City.
To find out more about investment opportunities in Penrith and access the new Investment Prospectus, visit penrith.city/invest-penrith and start a conversation with Council.
Photo captions:
Amplify_Penrith1: Council's Director City Futures Kylie Powell, journalist and MC Juanita Phillips, and Penrith Mayor Tricia Hitchen at the AMPLIFY PENRITH CBD event.
Amplify_Penrith2: Social demographer and keynote speaker, Mark McCrindle, presents during Council's first event of the Positively Penrith Symposium Series.
