Badgerys Creek announced as new priority growth area  

Last week, Planning Minister, Rob Stokes, announced the creation of a new priority growth area around the future airport at Badgerys Creek.

Locations for homes and jobs close to transport will be identified in a new Land Use and Infrastructure Strategy developed by NSW Government. Rezonings will follow. The Strategy will also guide new infrastructure investment in the priority growth area. 

It is expected the new Badgerys Creek Airport will result in a significant boost to local job growth. Early estimates place the figure at around 60,000 jobs to the region over the next three decades; and several thousand jobs for Western Sydney are expected to be generated in the excavation work to be commenced by the middle of next year.

Mayors from both Liverpool and Penrith councils are expected to be part of the new “planning partnership” to ensure effective communication between local and state level of government in all future planning. 

A new special infrastructure contribution levy will be established to cover the cost of regional road infrastructure, land for schools, strategic land use planning costs and environmental protection measures.

Negotiations with Sydney Airport Corporation, which has the first right of refusal to build and operate the airport, are believed to be close to an initial agreement, with the government understood to be prepared to wear the estimated $1.5 billion cost of preparing the site if the private operators fund the rest.