Penrith Council welcomes Aerotropolis infrastructure roadmap, but says critical infrastructure plan for Western Sydney still needed

Sunday, 23 March 2025

Penrith City Council has welcomed the release of Infrastructure NSW’s Aerotropolis Sector Plan, as a roadmap for the delivery of critical infrastructure surrounding the new Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport.

However, Penrith Mayor Cr Todd Carney said there were gaps in the plan relating to critical roads supporting the Aerotropolis.

He also stressed that it was critical for public infrastructure plans for Western Sydney to be fast-tracked and finalised, so that the extraordinary potential of the region could be realised.

“It’s important to note that this plan considers the Aerotropolis only,” Cr Carney said. “It’s only one piece of the broader Western Sydney puzzle.”

“We call on both the federal and state governments to consider gaps in the plan and look at the long-term delivery and funding of infrastructure throughout Western Sydney.

“Western Sydney is super-charged by the unprecedented investment in infrastructure, the development of new and renewed communities and economic hubs, and the evolution of the

Western Sydney Aerotropolis. But it needs to be fully connected to enable a thriving community that can access the opportunities of growth and change, and ultimately for the region to fulfil its economic role in NSW and Australia.”

Gaps in the Aerotropolis Sector Plan, that have been considered in Penrith Council’s newly endorsed Advocacy Strategy 2025 include:

• Luddenham Road - Penrith Council is calling for Luddenham Road to be designated as a state road, and major safety upgrades occur. The Sector Plan delays major upgrades until 2040, where Penrith Council sees this as an urgent safety issue. 
  Penrith Mayor Todd Carney said: “Fifteen years for major upgrades on this key road is just too long. Council is calling on the NSW Government to reclassify this road from local to state, given its critical and evolving role. We are also calling for road safety improvements to be implemented as an interim measure, while the ultimate design to ensure a safer, more connected and future-ready transport network can be delivered. We all need to recognise the critical role that Luddenham Road plays in the regional transport network, and its transition to a freight corridor with the opening of the airport.”
• Mamre Road – the Sector Plan outlines full funding for Mamre Road Stages 1 (M4 to Erskine Park Road) and Stage 2 (Erskine Park Road to Kerrs Road), supporting employment and freight movement.  Penrith Council is calling for a full upgrade and integration with Elizabeth Drive (the missing north-south link – whether through an upgrade of Mamre Road from Kerrs Road to Elizabeth Drive, or the construction of the Devonshire Link Road as a 1.3km extension).
  Penrith Mayor Todd Carney said: “There is currently a key gap between Kerrs Road and Elizabeth Drive. This missing connection prevents seamless north-south movement, vital for supporting the regional’s economic growth and this road as a gateway to the airport.”
• Elizabeth Drive – Stage 1 funding has been secured and east and west sections identified, but the full corridor remains unfunded for one of Western Sydney’s key east-west corridors.
  Penrith Mayor Todd Carney said: “A full-length upgrade needs to occur on this critical road to enhance safety for all road users in the region and to accommodate future airport traffic, including significant traffic and freight increases.”
  Penrith Council’s Advocacy Strategy 2025 also highlights other critical road and transport requirements, including:
• Full length north-south rail – Western Sydney Airport Metro needs to be extended from Bradfield to Macarthur in the south and from St Marys to Tallawong in the north.
  Penrith Mayor Todd Carney said: “To enable Greater Sydney to grow sustainably, we must connect Western Sydney in and of itself. We must push on at pace to deliver other vital infrastructure if we are to realise the extraordinary potential of Western Sydney, and top of the list has to be north-south rail connecting the entire region.”
• Castlereagh Connection – Penrith Council is also calling for staged delivery of this regionally significant connecting infrastructure, which also will serve as a critical flood evacuation route and unlock Penrith City Centre.
• Mulgoa Road – Penrith Council is calling for funding to complete the upgrade of Stages 5A and 5B before the airport opens.
• Western Sydney Rapid Bus Services – The Sector Plan funds general bus services, but not a dedicated rapid bus service. Penrith Council is advocating for a dedicated rapid bus service to connect major employment and residential hubs and strengthen public transport links throughout Western Sydney and to the new airport.

Information contained within this news release was correct as at Sunday, 23 March 2025.