This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
WALKER Corporation has revealed plans for a $1.9 billion business and innovation park spanning 400 hectares in the Macarthur region, set to be the largest of its kind in Greater Sydney.
More than 10,000 professional and skilled workers could operate out of the Macarthur Business Park, and the proposal will aim to leverage nearby transport infrastructure to service the fast-growing population, with up to 22,000 new homes projected for the neighbouring Appin and North Appin precincts over the next decade.
Walker managing director and CEO David Gallant said the company’s plans would support the growth of key health, education, manufacturing, information technology, legal and business services, logistics, hospitality and retail sectors.
“We are prioritising infrastructure alongside housing and the Macarthur Business Park will create new opportunities for residents of the Greater Macarthur to live and work locally, reducing their time commuting so they can have more time at home with their families,” Gallant said.
Campbelltown City Council Mayor George Greiss said, “This is a great outcome for our region as so many of our residents now travel over an hour and a half both ways to get to work each day.
“I’m a huge advocate for supporting our region with a greater diversity of local jobs as we continue to grow.”
First stage plans include the delivery of a new interchange off the Hume Motorway, linking the new Business Park with the future East-West connector road linking to Appin Road and through to the Illawarra region. The Macarthur Business Park will have direct access to the planned Outer Sydney Orbital which will provide future connectivity to the Western Sydney Airport and the Aerotropolis.
Identified as an employment centre by the NSW state government in 2018, the technology and innovation precinct will aim to capitalise on its location between Sydney CBD, Wollongong, Canberra and Western Sydney Airport.
Member for Campbelltown and Parliamentary Secretary for Western Sydney Greg Warren said, “400 hectares creating 10,000 professional jobs will have an enormous benefit to our local community and our region”.
“I’ve always believed that working together achieves the best outcomes, and this is an example of that. When we see the influx of people that are coming to our region, right now and into the future, innovations and commitments like this are exactly what we need.”
Large Format Retail Association chief executive Philippa Kelly said there is a strong demand for suitably located large format retail in NSW.
“This is a great step by Walker to ensure its future communities have access to the essentials close to home while creating opportunities for skills development and training in the Macarthur region.”
Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue Chief Executive Officer Adam Leto said this was a major investment in jobs infrastructure alongside housing.
“The tens of thousands of new homes and jobs planned for the region also reaffirms the need for improved rail and road connections, including a passenger and freight link from Port Kembla to Wilton, as well as a future Metro line running from the Western Sydney Airport to Macarthur.”
To keep locals and visitors informed about infrastructure plans for Future Appin neighbourhoods and the Macarthur Business Park, Walker recently opened the Appin Planning and Discovery Centre, where it invested over $1 million to restore the dilapidated Appin Inn into a community information centre with interactive technology.
