Penrith City Council has revealed a $397 million wish list of aspirational projects that would change the face of the community.
It’s part of a list Council has submitted under the $5 billion WestInvest program, a State Government initiative that will deliver funds to Councils for major projects.
The list includes an Indoor Multi-Sports Stadium at Claremont Meadows ($106 million), a City Park and Entertainment Precinct for St Marys ($21 million) and the Weir Reserve Rowing and Paddle Sports Precinct ($34.7 million).
Penrith Mayor Tricia Hitchen said the projects put forward are grounded in identified Council strategies, developed through extensive consultation with community members and designed to meet the City’s long-term needs and goals.
“Council estimates that by 2036 the population of our Local Government Area (LGA) will grow by another 70,000 residents meaning now is the time to enhance our community facilities and build additional infrastructure to keep pace with this growth, and to ensure Penrith continues to be the best place to live, work and play,” Cr Hitchen said.
“The plans we have identified as priority projects complement existing work and speak to the vision we have for the City.
“Many of these projects form part of our Sport and Recreational Strategy, a 15-year road map of improving sport, play, recreation and open space facilities across our City, while others sit within Council’s Green Grid Strategy, which ensures we create cool, green spaces and connect these to active transport links.”
On the wish list are several projects from our Green Grid Strategy, including the $2.8 million construction of a new shared walk and cycle pathway and tree planting on Debrincat Avenue, North St Marys, to Glossop Street, to provide a critical link connecting residents to schools, shops and transport.
Council is also prioritising a City Park and Entertainment Canopy in the heart of St Marys as a vibrant space to meet and relax. This will boost the local economy and align with other city-shaping projects coming to the eastern city centre, such as the Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport rail link, which will start at St Marys.
Plans for a multi-court indoor sports stadium will build on the development of the Gipps Street Recreation Precinct to bring a universally designed facility to the community, set to include 10 multi-sport courts and various features to accommodate a range of sporting codes with the view of hosting local, regional, state and even national sporting events.
In Penrith, Council will construct a new rowing and paddle sports precinct to provide more sport and recreation opportunities along the Nepean River. The masterplan will include boatsheds and activate the river’s edge by connecting the public to the water via local rowing, canoeing, kayaking, dragon boating and outrigger clubs.
Council’s planned Nursery Upgrade and Cumberland Plain Improvement Project, worth $4.6 million, is set to increase plant production to support new and existing programs to green our City.
“Through extensive community consultation and planning, Council has heard the needs of residents and is clear on how we can improve liveability and create a more connected, sustainable, accessible and enjoyable City to serve current and future generations,” Cr Hitchen said.
“We welcome the opportunity to fast-track the delivery of these aspirational projects and hope the NSW Government shares our vision for Penrith.
Other wish list projects include amenity buildings at various locations across the City, 21 playspace upgrades worth $6 million and City-wide accessible bus shelters, set to cost $8 million.
COUNCIL’S WESTINVEST WISH LIST
| Project name | Suburb | Strategy | Cost |
| Indoor Multi-Sports Sports Stadium | Claremont Meadows | Sport and Recreation Strategy | $106,730,000 |
| Boronia Park Amenity Building, Floodlights & Field Surfaces | North St Marys | Sport and Recreation Strategy | $7,560,000 |
| Soper Place Rooftop Garden | Penrith | Cooling the City Strategy | $10,000,000 |
| Regatta Park Amenity Improvements | Emu Plains | Our River Masterplan,
Cooling the City Strategy |
$4,840,000 |
| Weir Reserve Rowing and Paddle Sports Precinct | Penrith | Sport and Recreation Strategy | $34,700,000 |
| JSPAC Upgrade Lighting & Amenity | Penrith | Arts, Culture and Creativity | $2,250,000 |
| Tench Reserve Parks for People (P4P) Extra embellishments and placemaking | Jamisontown | Our River Masterplan | $18,700,000 |
| Peachtree Creek, Nepean Ave Shared Path (alternative route) | Penrith | Our River Masterplan | $16,300,000 |
| Bennett Park Skate & Mixed Recreation Space | St Marys | Sport and Recreation Strategy | $1,500,000 |
| City Park Urban Retreat | Penrith | Penrith Progression: A Plan for Action,
Economic Development Strategy, Cooling the City Strategy |
$5,000,000 |
| Penrith High Street Stage 3 | Penrith | Night Time Economy Strategy,
Cooling the City |
$5,800,000 |
| Upgrade of Jamison Road Intersection (Woodriff Street and York Road) | Penrith | Penrith Core Centre Transport Management study and Plan | $16,400,000 |
| Nursery Upgrade and Cumberland Plain Improvement Project | City-wide | Cooling the City Strategy | $4,600,000 |
| Cook Park Precinct Sport, Play, Grandstand & Mixed Recreation | St Marys | Sport and Recreation Strategy
|
$19,120,000 |
| Cook Parade Multi-Sports Court Hub | St Clair | Sport and Recreation Strategy | $3,250,000 |
| Green Grid Strategy Priority Project 7.14 – The Kingsway Streetscape Improvements, Active Transport Link & South Creek Bridge | St Marys, Werrington | Green Grid Strategy | $6,300,000 |
| Playspace Network Upgrades (21 x Playspaces) | City-wide | Sport and Recreation Strategy | $6,000,000 |
| Jamison Park Synthetic Fields Amenity Building | Jamisontown | Sport and Recreation Strategy | $6,400,000 |
| Harold Corr Oval Athletics Track Amenity Building | Cambridge Park | Sport and Recreation Strategy | $6,150,000 |
| Andrews Road Reserve Sports Precinct Upgrades | Cranebrook | Sport and Recreation Strategy | $14,400,000 |
| Green Grid Strategy Priority Project 7.25 – Debrincat Avenue streetscape improvements and active transport link | North St Marys | Green Grid Strategy
|
$2,800,000 |
| Green Grid Strategy Priority Project 10.5 – Factory Road Shared Path linking to Tench Reserve | Regentville, Jamisontown | Green Grid Strategy
|
$10,300,000 |
| St Clair Sports and Recreation Corridor – Storage, Amenities & Training Infrastructure | St Clair | Sports and Recreation Strategy | $4,250,000 |
| Monfarville Reserve Sport, Play & Mixed Recreation | St Marys | Sport and Recreation Strategy | $5,200,000 |
| Londonderry Park Sport, Play & Mixed Recreation Precinct | Londonderry | Sport and Recreation Strategy | $4,350,000 |
| Grey Gums Oval Amenity Building Upgrades & Floodlights | Cranebrook | Sport and Recreation Strategy | $1,900,000 |
| Parkes Avenue (including Rance Oval) Sport and Recreation Precinct | Werrington | Sport and Recreation Strategy | $4,000,000 |
| Parker Street Reserve Sport and Recreation Precinct | Penrith | Sport and Recreation Strategy | $2,450,000 |
| Emu Park & Dukes Oval Sport, Play, & Mixed Recreation Precinct | Emu Plains | Sport and Recreation Strategy | $3,950,000 |
| Andromeda Oval Storage, Sports Surface & Carpark Improvements | Cranebrook | Sport and Recreation Strategy | $1,700,000 |
| Gow Park Amenity Building | Mulgoa | Sport and Recreation Strategy | $2,850,000 |
| Leonay Oval Amenity Building (Lower) | Leonay | Sport and Recreation Strategy | $3,950,000 |
| Peppertree Reserve Amenity Building | Erskine Park | Sport and Recreation Strategy | $4,300,000 |
| Disability Discrimination Act compliant Bus Shelters (LGA Wide) | City-wide | Disability Inclusion Action Plan | $8,000,000 |
| Gipps Street Recreation Precinct | Claremont Meadows | Sport and Recreation Strategy | $7,000,000 |
| St Marys City Park – Expansion | St Marys | Local Strategic Planning Statement | $13,300,000 |
| St Marys City Heart (Park) and Entertainment Canopy | St Marys | Cooling the City Strategy | $21,000,000 |
Troy Dodds
Troy Dodds is the Weekender's Managing Editor and Breaking News Reporter. He has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working with some of Australia's leading media organisations. In 2023, he was named Editor of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.