Investing in infrastructure in western Sydney's growth areas will help deliver tens of thousands of new homes as demand for housing soars, the state government says.
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Western Sydney councils have been allocated $139 million to fund 24 separate projects as part of the NSW government's Accelerated Infrastructure Fund, the premier and planning minister said on Friday.
The second round of funding will pay for new drainage works, land acquisitions, road upgrades and the construction of sporting fields - work the government says will support the delivery of more than 30,000 homes to western Sydney.
The 24 projects are in Blacktown, The Hills, Hawkesbury, Penrith, Liverpool, Camden and Camperdown Councils.
"This is about state government working with local government to unlock land, build critical infrastructure and ultimately deliver thousands of homes across western Sydney," Premier Dominic Perrottet said.
The Department of Planning worked with the Blacktown City and Hills Shire councils to identify "shovel-ready" projects, subject to formal application processes and due diligence.
The projects will create up to 2200 jobs and convert 570 hectares into employment land, creating jobs for workers closer to their homes, Planning Minister Anthony Roberts said.
"We know people want to live in these areas and that's why we're focused on getting homes built, with the right infrastructure in place from the get-go," Mr Roberts said.
"In supporting councils to deliver these projects, we're also giving industry greater certainty for investment into western Sydney."
Mr Roberts said construction had begun on all 14 of the projects announced in the first round of funding.
Two of those projects were nearing completion, including a multipurpose recreational facility at Balmoral Road Reserve and a rural road upgrade of Railway Terrace in Schofields.
NSW Opposition Leader Chris Minns said the government needs to invest in western Sydney education, health and public transport infrastructure as the population continues to grow.
"We need to make sure that the infrastructure keeps pace with housing," Mr Minns said Friday.
"You're seeing a huge number of new people moving to western Sydney and southwestern Sydney."
The population in Camden was set to increase by 150,000 in the next decade, he said.
"The infrastructure is not keeping pace with the population," he said.
"You need to put in the schools, the hospitals and the public transport.
"Otherwise life is too difficult for these rapidly growing areas of Sydney."
Australian Associated Press
