NSW Govt: First Community projects announced for city-shaping WESTINVEST Fund

Residents in Canterbury-Bankstown will benefit from new state-of-the-art community facilities, new parks and priority pedestrian links through the first Local Council projects announced as part of the $5 billion WestInvest Fund.

As part of the WestInvest Fund, $2 billion was reserved for priority Community Projects. This included $400 million for 15 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in West and South West Sydney, with each local council eligible for between $20 million and $35 million, depending on population size.

Premier Dominic Perrottet, Treasurer Matt Kean and Minister for Local Government Wendy Tuckerman today announced $24 million in funding to Canterbury-Bankstown Council for four projects, which will deliver transformational infrastructure.

Projects co-funded by Westinvest for Canterbury-Bankstown include:

• $10 million towards the $20 million Revitalising Campsie Civic Precinct project to create a dedicated arts and culture precinct, including a new library, civic meeting facilities and indoor and outdoor community spaces.
• $5 million towards the $10 million Roberts Park Community Hub project which will provide a new multipurpose facility at the former YMCA site for Greenacre residents.
• $5 million towards the $6.5 million Wran District Park project which will overhaul the green space and decommission the aged Wran Leisure Centre to create a destination open space with multipurpose courts and a bespoke play space.
• $4 million towards the $5 million Local Traffic Program project which will deliver 6.2km of priority pedestrian infrastructure and 10 traffic management devices across 45 locations to increase pedestrian safety and support accessibility in the community.

The WestInvest Fund was made possible by the Government’s successful WestConnex asset recycling strategy.

The projects included in the Local Government Allocation will be announced in coming weeks, which will deliver enormous benefits across West and South West Sydney, including:

• At least 13 new and revitalised parks
• At least seven activated high streets
• More than 15 new and upgraded community centres
• Nine upgraded sports grounds and fields
• More than 25km of new walking and cycling tracks
• More than nine new BMX and skating tracks and parks
• Thousands of new trees and greenery.

Mr Perrottet said these projects would deliver real results in local communities and help build a brighter future for the people of Western Sydney.

“These projects funded in Canterbury-Bankstown will replace ageing community facilities with new cultural hubs, deliver new open and green space and create much needed pedestrian links and traffic improvements,” Mr Perrottet said.

“We’re backing the future of Western Sydney through WestInvest by helping to build new and improved facilities that will benefit families, residents and businesses across the region.”

Mr Kean said the Roberts Park Community Hub project will replace an ageing facility to deliver a new multipurpose community centre, a childcare centre, a new library kiosk and a commercial kitchen for the Meals on Wheels service.

“The $20 million Revitalising Campsie Civic Precinct will create a cultural destination for the local community with a new library, a cultural space as well as indoor and outdoor community spaces,” Mr Kean said. Mrs Tuckerman said the NSW Government allocated each of the 15 local WestInvest councils a share in the funding to expedite projects and ensure communities benefit sooner.

“As the closest level of government to the community, councils play an essential role in delivering services and facilities that meet the needs of locals. This funding will accelerate the projects that we believe will deliver the greatest benefit on the ground,” Mrs Tuckerman said.

Canterbury-Bankstown Council was allocated more than $34 million as part of the $400m Local Council direct allocation with further successful projects in Canterbury-Bankstown and other LGAs will be announced soon.

A further $1.6 billion from the $2 billion Community Project Grants is available to local community groups including Councils, with successful projects to be announced from December.

The $5 billion WestInvest program also includes $3 billion to deliver transformational projects that will benefit local communities, led by NSW Government agencies.

Find out more about WestInvest visit www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/westinvest

MEDIA: Benn Ayre | Premier | 0428 342 325

Jack Keppel | Treasurer | 0475 583 234

Aron Mola | Minister Tuckerman | 0460 647 397