G’day everyone,

Western Sydney is entering a defining period, with the countdown to the opening of Western Sydney International Airport, budget season and nine months to a NSW election.

The Daily Telegraph’s recent Future West campaign captured the opportunity in front of us, but also the need for all major political parties to move from vision to delivery – from sizzle to steak.

Western Sydney is looking for more tangible wins. Key areas include hotels, tourism campaigns, major road funding, Metro and rail development, strengthening local health and education capacity, and making housing supply stack up.

Infrastructure and policy must now keep pace with the reality of rapid change on the ground.

Regards,
David Borger

DRIVING THE DEBATE

Last Friday’s Daily Telegraph Future West Summit at Western Sydney International Airport brought together Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Premier Chris Minns, and senior business and community leaders. It was an honour to join the lead panel and feature prominently throughout the campaign, driving debate around the next phase of our region’s growth story.

With budget season and a state election year, it’s time for our leaders to bring both the sizzle and the steak.

During the Future West coverage, Business Western Sydney:

• Described Western Sydney International Airport as a major jobs engine, while warning Western Sydney is still not ready for the scale of change ahead, including an urgent need to accelerate hotel development

• Urged immediate action on a Western Sydney festivals strategy, backed by Destination NSW and comparable in ambition to events like Vivid Sydney

• Called for a future Metro orbital network and argued Sydney must keep building infrastructure at the pace of other global cities

• Highlighted cultural activation opportunities around the Parramatta Metro precinct and Roxy Theatre

• Advanced Liverpool priorities including Liverpool Square, a Liverpool Startup Hub and TAFE Centre of Excellence

• Reinforced health and transport needs including the equivalent of another 3.5 Westmead Hospitals and better rail access for the South West (Camden LGA has one station, the Inner City has 26).

Business, media and community advocacy together makes a difference. We thank The Daily Telegraph for continuing to drive the important conversations about Western Sydney’s future.

POWERHOUSE ARRIVES

Last Friday, the Minns Government officially handed over the keys to Powerhouse Parramatta in a landmark moment for Western Sydney. 

This is far more than a museum. Powerhouse Parramatta is a cultural anchor for Parramatta, a catalyst for jobs and visitation, and a clear statement about the kind of city we are building. As one of the most significant cultural investments in NSW history, it strengthens Western Sydney’s position as a destination in its own right, not simply a place people pass through on the way elsewhere.

Culture matters. It shapes identity, attracts talent, supports local businesses and helps cities compete globally. When paired with transport, education and vibrant precincts, institutions like Powerhouse Parramatta create places where people want to live, work and spend time.

Powerhouse Parramatta sets a new benchmark for ambition in Western Sydney. 

Powering the west

At the Western Sydney Utilities Summit, a clear message emerged: growth without early investment in utilities simply does not work. Energy, water, digital infrastructure and circular economy systems must scale alongside housing, jobs and people.

Keynote addresses from NSW Minister for Climate Change and Energy Penny Sharpe and Assistant Minister for Science, Technology and the Digital Economy Andrew Charlton highlighted both emerging opportunities and pressures.

As the Federal Government implements its National AI Plan, Western Sydney is emerging as a critical hub for data centres, digital infrastructure and the growing energy demands of the AI economy. The region is already attracting significant investment in advanced manufacturing, logistics and AI-enabled industries.

At the same time, communities are increasingly focused on what this growth means for energy affordability, reliability and long-term liveability.

Our Summit reinforced that powering new homes, industry and data centres while transitioning to net zero will require close coordination across governments, utilities and industry. Infrastructure planning must be proactive, not reactive, if Western Sydney is to succeed in its next phase.

roads in focus

A practical and forward-looking discussion with NSW Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison recently on the future of transport infrastructure across the region.

The Minister brought a grounded perspective to the conversation, reflecting on her prior experience in the coach touring industry. Comparing the needs of Western Sydney with her home region of Maitland, she noted that infrastructure has not always kept pace with growth.

The discussion ranged from global fuel pressures accelerating EV uptake to the future of driverless vehicles, with companies like Waymo already in cities such as Los Angeles and San Francisco. While further work is needed to adapt these technologies to Australian conditions, the next wave of transport innovation is approaching quickly.

Western Sydney priorities remained front and centre, including an expanded public transport corridor along Fifteenth Avenue between Liverpool and Bradfield, Spring Farm Parkway Stage 2 and the sequencing of infrastructure in the outer South West. Better coordination between governments and developers is essential to ensure communities are not left playing catch up.

connecting the airport

Business Western Sydney recently toured the $1.7 billion M7–M12 Integration Project, one of the most significant transport investments shaping the future of Western Sydney.

The scale of the project is enormous. The upgrade widens the M7 to three lanes in each direction and delivers a direct connection to the new M12 Motorway and Western Sydney International Airport ahead of the interchange opening in mid-2026.

What stood out was the engineering complexity involved, including the construction of major bridges above live traffic while keeping the city moving safely and efficiently.

Once complete, the project will reduce congestion, improve freight movement and support faster, more reliable journeys for commuters, businesses and airport users alike.

Thanks to Ian Whitfield and Daniel Lovett from NorthWestern Roads Group and Andie Pitsiatari of John Holland Group.

mayors gathering

This year’s Annual Mayors’ Gathering brought together Western Sydney civic leaders for a practical discussion on the pressures and priorities facing fast-growing communities.

NSW Minister Ron Hoenig brought more than 30 years’ experience as Mayor of Botany and strong insight into the realities of local government, alongside Mayors Brad Bunting (Blacktown), Ola Hamed (Cumberland), Les Sheather (Hawkesbury) and Darcy Lound (Campbelltown), as well as senior council and industry representatives.

Held at Sydney Motorsport Park, the roar of racing cars provided a striking backdrop.

Key themes included the housing pipeline and whether State reforms are translating into faster delivery, concerns about the capacity of funding models to support libraries, pools and community infrastructure, and the rising cost pressures on councils driven by waste, fuel and service delivery. 

Thanks to Blacktown City Council for supporting the event.

Vietnam Visit

I recently spent time in Hanoi, where I had the opportunity to engage in a constructive and forward‑looking discussion with the leadership of the Vietnam Australia Young Entrepreneurs Association (VAYEA). My thanks to Harry Tran for facilitating a thoughtful conversation that reinforced the strength of the relationship between our two regions. 

There are real opportunities for deeper collaboration between Vietnam and Western Sydney across infrastructure, manufacturing, education, tourism and workforce development. The ambition, openness and international outlook of Vietnam’s young business leaders was genuinely impressive. 

Also striking to see first‑hand the pace of economic transformation, over the past two decades, Vietnam has tripled its GDP per capita, lifted millions out of poverty and invested heavily in skills and industrial capability. Their pathway is different to Australia’s, but the outcomes speak for themselves. 

Through connections supported by Australia‑Vietnam Trade and Investment Promotion, this dialogue marked an important step in strengthening ties between Western Sydney’s business community and Vietnam’s next generation of entrepreneurs. We now look forward to welcoming the VAYEA delegation to Sydney from May 17-19. 

Show Season Wrap 

The agricultural show season has wrapped up with strong turnouts across Western Sydney. Successful shows at Camden and Luddenham earlier in the year were followed by a well-attended Hawkesbury Show, bringing communities together to celebrate local agriculture, small business and volunteer spirit.

These shows remain a vital part of Western Sydney’s identity. They connect industry with community, showcase local producers and provide a space where tradition and modern regional life meet.

As one season ends, the next is already on the horizon. The Picton Show will kick things off again in October.

m12 video

The M12 Motorway is a piece of infrastructure Western Sydney can be genuinely proud of. Long in the making and set to open in the coming weeks, it will deliver a direct connection between Western Sydney International Airport and the broader motorway network something our region has needed for a long time.

This project is impressive not just for its scale, but for what it represents. From record‑breaking engineering, including the longest incremental launched bridge constructed in Australia, to the sheer effort behind it, the M12 showcases what’s possible when infrastructure is done properly.

More than five million hours of work have gone into this project, backed by an outstanding safety record, low injury rates and a workforce trained not only in construction, but in leadership and mental health.

It’s a catalyst for jobs, productivity and long‑term economic opportunity and a critical piece of the puzzle in unlocking the full potential of Western Sydney.

Watch the video here.