Penrith City Council is calling for federal and state investment and policy change to support sustainable growth and achieve the best outcomes for its community.
Council endorsed its 2025 advocacy priorities at the February Ordinary Meeting, with housing, roads and transport connections, flooding, liveability, and place-based initiatives in St Marys and Orchard Hills listed as focus areas.
"Our City's greatest transformation is underway and the growth in and around Penrith is establishing Western Sydney as an economic and social powerhouse in NSW," Penrith Mayor Todd Carney said.
"Informed by the needs of our community, Council's latest advocacy priorities embrace new opportunities that will enable us to futureproof this City."
Given the scale of change and expectations for Western Sydney to meet housing demands and drive economic and jobs growth, Cr Carney said it was imperative for Federal and State
Government to deliver the infrastructure and policy that is beyond Council's control or capacity.
Among the list of named priorities are:
- Castlereagh Connection, an earmarked flood evacuation route;
- Full-length north south rail;
- A Western Sydney Rapid Bus service; and
- Community infrastructure to support housing growth.
Penrith's population is estimated to exceed 270,000 by 2041, and the region is only 15 kilometres from the Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport, due to open in 2026.
The Sydney Metro - Western Sydney Airport line will connect St Marys to the rest of the world.
To harness local opportunities in line with these once-in-a-generation transformative projects, Council has been engaging residents to identify their immediate and long-term needs.
Nearly 80 per cent of residents who completed the 2024 customer satisfaction survey highlighted the importance of Council advocating on its behalf.
"Council has delivered many exciting, tangible outcomes for the benefit of the community; we continue to listen to our residents and strive to have vital infrastructure and other game-changing projects come to fruition," Cr Carney said.
"Council's advocacy priorities frame our community-endorsed vision for the region and guide us as we ask our NSW Government and Federal Government counterparts, along with policy makers and strategic partners, to support us in delivering the best for Penrith."
To find out more, visit penrith.city/advocacypriorities
