October Newsletter 2025

PREMIER'S LUNCHEON A SUCCESS

The Business Western Sydney Annual Premier’s Luncheon is always a highlight and this year was no exception. Chris Minns delivered a candid, wide-ranging address covering housing reform, planning, workers compensation and the future of NSW.

Following our successful conference in September, it was particularly encouraging to hear the Premier’s recognise our Housing Now! Alliance, and the shared progress we’re making to deliver more homes. His bipartisan acknowledgment of Mark Speakman and call for support – later delivered – to pass major planning reforms was a standout moment.

A big thank you to Lord Mayor Martin Zaiter (City of Parramatta), Kirsten Andrews (University of Sydney), David Bohm (BDO), and all our members and dignitaries who made this event so special.

We’ve appreciated the continued engagement of the Premier and his team throughout 2025 as we push for greater investment in Western Sydney.

AMAZING AMAZON TOUR WITH MCT

In late October, we hosted NSW Treasury Secretary Michael Coutts-Trotter for an exclusive boardroom luncheon at Amazon’s Robotics Fulfilment Centre in Kemps Creek. The discussion focused on Western Sydney’s economic future - from investment opportunities tied to Western Sydney International Airport and Bradfield, to the new Investment Delivery Authority's role in fast-tracking major projects across advanced technology, AI infrastructure and renewable energy.

Mr Coutts-Trotter outlined how NSW can position itself in the global AI race, and capture the jobs and industries it will create.

Guests then toured Amazon’s 200,000-square-metre robotics fulfilment centre - the first of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. With automation enabling up to 40% more efficient storage and capacity for 20 million items, it represents a major step forward in smart logistics and supply-chain capability for Western Sydney.

CONSERVATORIUM OF MUSIC HEADED TO PARRAMATTA

Parramatta’s music scene just got a major boost! The University of Sydney is bringing a new Conservatorium of Music campus to the heart of Parramatta from August 2026. This is a game-changer for Western Sydney’s creative economy, giving young musicians the chance to study, perform and launch their careers right here.
  
For too long, Western Sydney has been under-served when it comes to arts and live music infrastructure. In cities like New Orleans, music infuses everyday life. While the City of Sydney made an ill-fated bid to crack down on buskers, Parramatta welcomes that energy in our streets. 

With Powerhouse Parramatta, the Riverside Theatres redevelopment, organisations like WestWords and this year’s arrival of the Sydney Morning Herald and ABC, Parramatta’s reputation is growing as a hub for creative industries. 

We’ve long championed this investment because we believe the next great Australian artist should be able to say: “I got my start in Western Sydney”.

SHOPPING CENTRE REVOLUTION

The shopping centre offering in Western Sydney is changing fast. Once scrappy places to pick up the groceries, they’re becoming lifestyle precincts with dining, entertainment and community services. The $200 million Plumpton Central project is a major step forward. It unlocks a site that had stalled for two decades and delivers the first new sub-regional shopping centre built in metropolitan Sydney in 20 years.

The breakthrough all-ways roundabout on Jersey Road finally makes the site workable, opening the way for supermarkets, dining, large-format retail, childcare and a medical hub – finally, a true town centre for one of Western Sydney’s fastest-growing communities.

Importantly, Plumpton Central forms part of a broader wave of investment, with Revelop progressing major new retail precincts in Box Hill, Dural, Rosehill, Blacktown, Camden, Wollongong and Newcastle, as well as expanding Forestway.

Together, these projects will drive jobs, improve amenity and help shape vibrant, connected communities right across Western Sydney.

INSW'S VISION FOR WESTERN SYDNEY

In a big month for inside track discussions with our members, Business Western Sydney was delighted to host Tom Gellibrand, Chief Executive of Infrastructure NSW, for an exclusive boardroom luncheon. Tom shared valuable insights into the State Infrastructure Strategy.

He also outlined the role of the new Infrastructure Delivery Authority and reflected on his legacy as the father of Sydney Metro – a network that is finally delivering the world-class transport Sydney deserves.

The conversation was forward-looking, exploring how major projects can drive economic growth and improve liveability across Western Sydney. Our members asked sharp, practical questions, making for a dynamic and productive discussion.

A big thank you to Tom for his leadership and vision, and to David Tudehope and the Macquarie Technology Group team for generously hosting the event.

MORE HOTELS FOR A GROWING REGION

Western Sydney needs more hotel capacity as the new airport comes online, so we can host bigger events, major conferences and welcome more international visitors.

The launch of the new Crowne Plaza Parramatta is a great step forward. Once built, it will add 217 much-needed rooms to the southern end of the CBD. This is an area primed for transformation, from a proper Chinatown for Parramatta to a reborn Auto Alley on Church Street.

When the M12 opens next year, it will take just 20 minutes from Western Sydney International Airport to Church Street with no traffic lights. 

More hotels are on the way. It’s exciting to see IHG Hotels & Resorts and Urban Property Group backing our region’s future with this landmark investment.

LIBERALS FOR HOUSING LAUNCH

More movement on housing reform. The Liberals Friends of Housing group launched at NSW Parliament in October, signalling growing momentum across the political spectrum to tackle the housing crisis.

Senior Policy Manager Nick Ryan attended the launch on behalf of Business Western Sydney, along with other members of the Housing Now! Alliance.

Nick highlighted that home ownership is not just another policy priority – it is central to Australia’s social and economic fabric.  He also called for a rethink of housing as an investment asset, pointing out that billions of dollars tied up in property could instead be driving innovation and productivity. Ownership, not housing type, matters most – and ensuring Australians can own a piece of the country is essential for fairness, freedom, and the future.

Housing Now! is proud to support all efforts that make it easier for people to get into homes. 

GOING DUTCH IN WETHERILL PARK

Western Sydney: Parts Unknown returns! This time we’re deep in the industrial heart of Smithfield, where you’d expect grease, gears and grit, not Gouda.
  
 In this episode, I join Katherine Morgan from Business Western Sydney to uncover Holland House, a whimsical Dutch café tucked between warehouses and workshops, filled with kitsch memorabilia and the unmistakable smell of strong coffee and cheese.
  
 Who would’ve thought a slice of the Netherlands was hiding amongst us all along?

MARIYUNG TRAINS ROLL OUT

Better late than never, the Mariyung intercity trains officially began service on the Blue Mountains Line in October, marking a major milestone for modern, accessible travel in NSW.

These state-of-the-art trains now connect Lithgow, Katoomba, Penrith, Blacktown, Parramatta and beyond, delivering a smoother, safer and more comfortable journey for thousands of commuters and visitors.

For many of us, seamless cross-region train travel is something we’ve experienced overseas and it’s the standard Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains deserve. After years of planning and delivery across multiple governments, this rollout represents a significant step forward for reliable, world-class infrastructure in our region.

While Mariyung trains have been operating on the Central Coast and Newcastle lines for months, their arrival on the Blue Mountains Line is a game-changer for connectivity and liveability. Here’s to better journeys ahead!