News

PENRITH City Council has developed a new online interactive map to showcase the ongoing revitalisation of the Nepean River, and help residents and visitors discover all the things to see and do there.

Details about major projects being delivered on both sides of the Nepean River are now easier than ever to fi nd with the map outlining their location, status and where to fi nd more information about the projects so residents can keep up to date.

Th e map is designed to help visitors plan a trip to the Nepean River by providing details and locations of public and accessible toilets, car parks and on-street parking spaces, along with picnic spots, playgrounds and where to grab the best view or photo.

Th e interactive map also allows users to discover things to see and do at the Nepean River including walking tracks, where to launch a kayak from, appropriate fi shing spots and popular locations to book for wedding ceremonies.

Penrith Mayor Karen McKeown OAM said the new interactive map will be a valuable resource for residents and visitors.

Residents and visitors can use the new interactive map to find out the status of projects at the Nepean River including the $24M upgrade at Regatta Park funded by Penrith City Council, and the Australian and NSW Governments through Western Sydney City Deal’s Western Parkland City Liveability Program.

“The Nepean River is a hive of construction activity at the moment and this map will help residents and visitors to understand what’s planned for the Nepean River as well as all the different ways they can experience and enjoy our region’s greatest natural asset,” Cr McKeown said.

Penrith City Council’s ongoing program of work to enhance the Nepean River and create more opportunities for people to meet, relax, explore, play and be active in the outdoors is set to strengthen Penrith’s position as Western Sydney’s most liveable city.

LOCAL sporting clubs are being offered a financial reprieve as they look to recover and rebuild from COVID-19 with Penrith City Council moving to waive sportsground hire fees for the upcoming 2021/2022 summer season.

Th is follows Council’s decision to allow free use of the City’s sportsgrounds and fl oodlights during the 2020 and 2021 winter seasons as well as the 2020/2021 summer season.

Th e upcoming season had been allocated to run from September 18, 2021, to March 6, 2022, however, the offi cial start date remains unknown while NSW continues working towards vaccination targets and exploring options for reducing the state’s restrictions.

Once the summer season starts, 39 clubs from 13 sporting codes are set to benefi t from Council’s fee relief, which is estimated to cost around $60,000.

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 MAJOR PROJECTS |

PENRITH is set to become Australia’s Hollywood with a $150m film studio planned for an old sandstone quarry north of the city centre.

Planning Minister Rob Stokes will soon release details of the project. It will be built on a section of the 2000ha Penrith Lakes and will be named Lakeside Studio.

Apart from the studio, the facility will feature a golf course, freshwater beaches, a fi lm production school and helipad.

Th e studio is guaranteed of success because of the huge demand for quality drama driven by the by streaming services such as Stan, Binge and Netfl ix.

“Who needs Hollywood Hills when we’ve got Penrith Lakes? NSW is home to some of the best fi lm production crews in the world, so it’s fi tt ing they have a place to call home in Greater Sydney,” Mr Stokes told media outlets.

“If approved, this 43ha precinct would include up to 10 production stages, fi lming tanks, construction and design facilities, as well as a fi lm school.

Mr Stokes said it would create up to 300 construction jobs over three years and, once completed, the site would employ up to 2000 people on major movie projects.

Th e studio would feature 10 sound stage,2600 carparking spaces, studio reception and audience holding area, guard house and perimeter

Th ere will be more than 9000 sqm of workshop space, a fi lm production training school with dedicated studio space, lecture rooms, workshops, screening room, offi ces, cafeteria and campus

Th e studio will be located just 3.4km northwest of Penrith CBD.

Th e quarry is located next to the Sydney Olympic Regatt a Centre and closed in 2015. Lakes up to 8m deep and covering 723ha were created aft er rainwater and runoff fi lled large holes in the ground left by the quarrying operations.

It is also where numerous scenes were shot for the huge international 2015 movie hit Mad Max Fury Road, which won six Academy Awards.

Lakeside Studio’s development will be headed by industry veteran James M. Vernon who has 35 credits as producer and executive producer, including Mel Gibson’s Hacksaw Ridge and Th e King’s Daughter which starred Pierce Brosnan.

The stars and director of Mad Max Fury Road.

Snacks by Snack Brands Australia.

KETTLE Chips, Thins, Cheezels and CC’s could soon be manufactured in Orchard Hills under a proposal for a new facility which is currently on exhibition for public feedback.

A $222M development proposal could see the Snack Brands Australia warehouse and distribution centre on Distribution Drive expanded to include food manufacturing on site.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes said the proposal would bring jobs and investment to Western Sydney.

“Chips may be cheap, however this proposal is anything but and represents a major opportunity for Western Sydney,” Mr Stokes said.

“Th e pandemic has shown that many of Sydney’s construction workers live in the south-west, so it’s important that we have as many jobs close to homes as possible.”

Member for Mulgoa Tanya Davies said the proposal would see some of the most iconic chip brands manufactured in Western Sydney.

“If approved, the Snack Brands Australia site will be a 24/7 operation and feature a new food manufacturing facility, an offi ce, a wastewater treatment plant and create 497 construction jobs,” Mrs Davies said.

Members of the public are invited to have their say on the project’s Environmental Impact Statement by Wednesday, October 13, 2021.

A SHARE of $139M is up for grabs for eight Western Sydney councils as applications have opened for round two of the Accelerated Infrastructure Funding (AIF).

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes said round two includes highgrowth greenfi eld precincts in Blacktown, Th e Hills, Hawkesbury, Penrith, Liverpool, Camden, Campbelltown and Wollondilly local government areas (LGAs).

“We launched this funding to support our economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and in the fi rst round more than $145M was invested to deliver 14 projects,” Mr Stokes said.

“All of these projects are now underway and will support the development of up to 40,000 new homes, 115 hectares of employment land and create up to 1,000 new construction jobs.”

Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said the AIF would also create thousands of jobs in the construction phase, helping to meet the future needs of Western Sydney.

“Western Sydney is ripe for growth and this funding will provide the necessary infrastructure to support an expected 20,000 plus new greenfi eld homes across these LGAs over the next fi ve years,” Mr Ayres said.

Councils will be allocated funding according to anticipated growth in each LGA, the amount of development the funding will support and the amount of co-funding that councils can provide. All projects must commence construction within two years to qualify for funding.

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THE American burger phenomenon Five Guys has officially opened its doors at Penrith, initially offering takeaway only in COVID restrictions.

Th e initial plans for Five Guys were to open the fi rst store in the CBD, due to COVID, Seagrass and Five Guys have embraced a new strategy. Th e strategy required major suburban hubs be included during the site selection process, in addition to the CBD.

Mr Matt hew Leavey, Head of Property for Panthers Group, said: “Panthers is over the moon to partner with Seagrass to bring the fi rst Five Guys to Australia. Aft er a competitive process, we decided that aligning with a strong hospitality leader like Seagrass BHG to be able to introduce an iconic international brand like Five Guys to Penrith was in the best interest of our members and community”. Aft er six months of consideration and research into the vibrant region, Five Guys and Seagrass BHG concluded that Penrith is a dynamic Western hub with growth in the health, education and logistics sectors that demonstrates the future potential of the area and footfall. Tim Andrews, Retail Director Stonebridge Property Group has represented Seagrass in identifying and progressing sites, said: “Both the Panthers Group and Seagrass have tremendous confi dence that Penrith and Panthers will be an outstanding Five Guys location”.

Th e restaurant is adjacent to the fi rst Krispy Kreme store in Australia, next door to the Panthers League Club and in between KFC and McDonalds, stretching along Mulgoa Road, one of the busiest roads in Western Sydney, pulling in over 40,000 vehicles a day.

Th e location is an impressive high visibility free-standing site facing Mulgoa Rd.

Several additional sites are also under consideration. Seagrass will continue to pursue premium locations in the CBD with high visibility, foot traffi c, and the core corridor from Circular Quay to Darling Harbour and Broadway.

Buger options at Five Guys.

 PROPERTY | PIA LENARDUZZI

THE COVID lockdown may have crippled bujsinesses in Western Sydney, but local buyer’s agents say they have never been busier, with demand for their services increasing throughout the pandemic.

Latest data from CoreLogic shows that property values rose by 1.5% for the month of August. Th is rise was higher than average, but the slowest monthly rise since January.

“Lockdowns are having a clear impact on consumer sentiment, however to date the restrictions have resulted in falling advertised listings and, to a lesser extent, fewer home sales, with less impact on price growth momentum,” CoreLogic’s Research Director, Tim Lawless said.

“It’s likely the ongoing shortage of properties available for purchase is central to the upwards pressure on housing.”

Jacque Parker, Director of House Search Australia, said buyer’s agents are making it easier for prospective buyers in COVID hotspots to secure homes in a market where stock is limited.

“Th is latest lockdown hasn’t had a huge impact on the market, given there is still strong demand,” Ms Parker said.

“Not as many vendors are listing, which is the biggest change that we’ve noticed.

“We are defi nitely giving our clients the edge, particularly those that live in local government areas (LGA) of concern, where their movement is limited.

“We can get out and inspect a property on their behalf, which is saving them a lot of time and helping them secure their home off -market or at online auctions.”

According to Domain, Sydney auction clearance rates in August remained above 80%, compared to 61% this time last year.

“In Western Sydney, particularly the Hills District, a free-standing house with decent land size is still important to buyers, as well good school catchment areas and proximity to transport,” Ms Parker said.

“Th ere are still opportunities for fi rst home buyers to get into the market, but for free standing houses under the $1million mark, we’re seeing people searching further afi eld out of Sydney and considering other areas, including the Blue Mountains and Central Coast.”