Parramatta is inviting Western Sydney local government leaders to join forces as the Western Sydney Cabinet of Mayors - WESTcom - a forum to advocate for funding and infrastructure that globally position the region for future opportunity and growth.
The inaugural roundtable meeting slated for the third quarter of 2025 will bring local government leaders together to align on proposals and strategies that will continue transforming the region into a global economic and social powerhouse.
City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Martin Zaiter said collaboration was critical to realise the collective economic potential of the region.
"We can't just sit on our hands and become spectators as other regions snap up growth opportunities," Cr Zaiter said.
"This is about advocating as a collective voice to accelerate the growth of Western Sydney, an area stretching from Parramatta to the Blue Mountains, and from Wollondilly to Hawkesbury, with a current gross regional product (GRP) of more than $182 billion and growing - about half the value of New Zealand's economy and rivalling that of Greece.
"Our global potential depends on how councils plan for and invest in jobs, housing, infrastructure, education and liveability - we must work together to unlock Western Sydney's full potential.
"With the impending opening of Western Sydney International Airport, now is the time to build strength in numbers to make our region the go-to destination for both domestic and international business, travellers and investors."
The dissolution of the Greater Cities Commission has created an opportunity for local governments to fill a critical gap by collaborating more closely on issues such as regional infrastructure, housing, planning, and cultural and economic development projects.
"We're looking to build a model of nation-leading governance and a unified voice to advocate, secure investment, and address pressures to drive sustainable growth and economic development," Cr Zaiter said.
"This will be a platform to tackle shared challenges by aligning strategy and policy positions that continue to respond to our individual cities, while presenting a unified voice to State and Federal governments."
"As the Lord Mayor for Parramatta, the geographical heart of Greater Sydney, I am committed to leading this initiative and I encourage my fellow Western Sydney mayors to join us.
"The sky is the limit if we work together."
