March Newsletter 2026

WESTERN SYDNEY'S EDUCATION FUTURE

Western Sydney is growing faster than anywhere else in Australia. The choices we make now will decide who succeeds and who gets left behind.

In late March, Business Western Sydney hosted its inaugural Western Sydney Education Summit, bringing together more than 70 leaders from schools, universities and VET providers. Headlined by Federal Education Minister Jason Clare, alongside Professor Barney Glover AO, Commissioner of Jobs and Skills Australia, and NSW Education Secretary Murat Dizdar, the Summit launched our report: What Western Sydney Can Be: Building Tomorrow’s Education System.

The report sets out practical, achievable reforms: plan and deliver public schools faster, fast-track non-government approvals, promote shared use of school facilities, expand trade-focused high schools and TAFE Centres of Excellence, and increase university places and suburban campuses.

We welcome recent developments, including legislation to create the Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC), which will set enrolments per university and support needs-based funding. This will help institutions with equity missions, particularly in Western Sydney. The NSW Government’s catch-up school-building program in North West and South West Sydney, along with the introduction of Year 1 phonics screening – a key recommendation of our report – also mark significant progress.

Education in Western Sydney is like Google Maps: some students have a clear route, others hit roadblocks. By planning smarter, investing strategically and working together, we can turn growth into opportunity for everyone.

WESTERN SYDNEY EDUCATION REPORT

STEP-CHANGE FOR HOTELS

In March, Business Western Sydney was pleased to launch the Western Sydney Hotels Report 2026 with CBRE. It confirms what many across the region are already seeing: Western Sydney’s hotel market is entering a new phase.

Population growth, major infrastructure delivery and a maturing major events and visitor economy are driving a step‑change in accommodation demand. With Western Sydney International Airport, the M12 and Metro expansion coming online, the need for hotel rooms, conferencing space and destination hospitality is accelerating. Supply, however, is still lagging long‑term demand.

Parramatta is leading the way, with at least seven new hotels on the way that are more than places to sleep. They’re destinations where business is done, conferences are hosted and city centres come alive.

With the right planning and collaboration, Western Sydney can build a visitor economy that matches its ambition.

Thanks to CBRE and the team for a strong collaboration.

BWS X CBRE REPORT

10% VENUE DISCOUNT

Business Western Sydney members can now enjoy 10% off bookings at the Parramatta Square Business & Event Centre, a five star venue in the heart of Parramatta for meetings, conferences, training, town halls and hybrid events.

Designed by Carr Design, the centre features two flexible, modern spaces with state-of-the-art audio visual technology. The main auditorium hosts up to 200 guests theatre style, with a 9 metre Ultra HD video wall and full hybrid conferencing. The Western Room accommodates 50 guests, ideal for board meetings, workshops or smaller training sessions.

It’s a practical member benefit that saves costs while supporting business operations across Western Sydney. To redeem your 10% discount, email Kez (Kerrie Anne McLeod) at kerrie-anne.mcleod@businesswesternsydney.com or call 02 9466 4405.

AEROTROPOLIS NOW

A big few weeks for the Western Sydney Aerotropolis with the opening of the toll‑free M12 and planning approval of ALDI’s $1 billion automated distribution centre. 

The 16-kilometre M12 links Elizabeth Drive to The Northern Road and will connect to the M7 once the full interchange opens later this year.  

The airport may host the planes, but the M12 is the runway for the Western Sydney economy. A single piece of infrastructure that is a game‑changer for commuters, freight and business productivity. 

At the same time, ALDI’s new facility, covering the equivalent of 15 soccer fields, is set to deliver thousands of construction jobs and hundreds of ongoing roles, reshaping supply chains across NSW.

This is planes, roads and jobs lining up and Western Sydney reaping the benefits.

SINGAPORE and New Zealand FLIGHTS ON SALE 

After years of hard work, this was a milestone worth marking.

It was a pleasure to be at Western Sydney International Airport as the first Singapore Airlines and Air New Zealand tickets officially went on sale, signaling a major step forward for Sydney’s first new international airport in more than 50 years. This moment reflected the scale of effort that has gone into turning a long‑held vision into reality.

These will be the first international flights from a true 24‑hour global gateway, connecting Western Sydney directly to Singapore, Auckland and more than 150 onward destinations. For businesses, that means greater flexibility, less wasted time and more efficient access to global markets without the cost and disruption of overnight stopovers.

It’s a boon for Western Sydney’s multicultural population looking for faster access to Asia, South Asia, the Pacific and the Middle East.

A FAIR GO FOR FILM

Kudos to the NSW Government for broadening eligibility for Sydney’s second major film studio. This will allow proposals from across Greater Sydney, including Western Sydney, to compete on merit. 

It recognises a simple reality: creative talent, crews and production expertise are spread across the city, and world-class screen infrastructure shouldn’t be limited to one postcode.

Western Sydney already has a strong track record in film and television, hosting productions from Mad Max to The Great Gatsby, while nearby regions like the Southern Highlands have featured major projects such as Babe. Expanding the Expression of Interest beyond a 35 kilometre CBD radius ensures the best proposal comes forward, encourages stronger competition, and creates new jobs and career pathways in the creative industries.

The NSW Government is committing up to $100 million, with private partners providing additional investment. Internationally, major studios like Pinewood Studios (UK) and Trilith Studios (Atlanta) show that world-class production hubs thrive outside city centres. 

Truly, all of Western Sydney can now be a stage.

SBS PUSH GOES ON

The decision to withdraw plans to relocate SBS production to Western Sydney was disappointing. While funding constraints can be acknowledged, this is clearly a missed opportunity and one the region is not prepared to walk away from.

Western Sydney is home to more than one in 10 Australians. Its diversity, stories and communities are central to the SBS mission of reflecting modern Australia.

What stood out during this process was the strength of regional advocacy. Councils across Liverpool, Parramatta, Canterbury‑Bankstown and Blacktown all made strong, credible cases to host SBS and championed greater recognition for the West.

While the outcome is disappointing, the conversation doesn’t end here. The case for investment in public broadcasting and storytelling that genuinely reflects today’s Sydney remains strong and Business Western Sydney will continue to make it.

uow liverpool launch

The official opening of Stage 1 of the University of Wollongong’s new Liverpool campus at Civic Place marks an important moment for Liverpool and South West Sydney.

This is education done differently. Co located with a civic building and a public library, the campus is embedded in the heart of the city, showing how higher education and urban placemaking can work together. A tour of the campus makes it clear it is designed to be part of the community, not separated from it.

Liverpool is fast establishing itself as one of Sydney’s emerging university cities, bringing students, researchers, industry and local communities together in one place. With UOW’s adjoining 11-storey vertical campus and life sciences facility on the way by 2028, the potential is limitless

Congratulations to Vice Chancellor Max Lu and his leadership team, Liverpool City Council and everyone involved in delivering this project. This is the kind of investment that shapes cities and futures.

POWERHOUSE REVEALED

It was great to get on site with our members this month for a behind‑the‑scenes tour of the Powerhouse Parramatta, one of the most significant cultural projects ever delivered in Western Sydney.

From rooftop gardens to conference spaces, kitchens and large‑scale community areas, the ambition and quality of what’s being built is clear. This is more than a museum, it’s a major investment in jobs, education, culture and opportunity for the region.

Seeing the project up close really brings home the scale of what’s being delivered and the role it will play in Parramatta’s future. 

You can feel the momentum building as the project moves closer to opening day.

PARTS UNKNOWN 

Western Sydney is full of stories that rarely make headlines – and they’re the ones that matter most. In the latest episode of Parts Unknown, we head to the hoppy, frothy heart of Parramatta to visit Riverside Brewing Company, a local institution and Bruce McClelland’s craft-beer pick. 

Anthony Bourdain travelled the world for stories, I only had to travel minutes. Riverside shows it all: passion, skill and a community that shows up for its own.

Watch the video.