Penrith receives $152 million in funding for City-shaping projects

Tuesday, 31 January 2023

Penrith City Council has secured $152 million in funding for several City-shaping projects through the NSW Government’s $5 billion WestInvest program.

An indoor multi-sports arena, 21 City-wide playspace upgrades, and a nursery upgrade and Cumberland Plain improvement project are among the eight successful projects which will help see Council realise its vision of transforming Penrith into one of the state’s most liveable cities.

Penrith Mayor Tricia Hitchen said these projects will deliver critical infrastructure to support the Penrith community’s needs now and into the future.

“We are undergoing a time of significant change and population growth in the Penrith Local Government Area with the development of the Western Sydney International Airport and the opportunities this will bring to our region,” Cr Hitchen said.

“Coupled with the almost $30 million of WestInvest funding we secured last year, the funding announced today will help bring to life projects which will prepare us for this change, and transform Penrith into Western Sydney’s most desirable city for residents and visitors alike.”

“We thank the NSW Government for recognising the importance of these projects and the significant social and economic benefits they will deliver to the area.”

Indoor multi-sports arena, Claremont Meadows ($106,730,000)

An existing undeveloped site in Claremont Meadows will be transformed into a high-quality community sport precinct with an indoor multi-sports arena which will accommodate local, regional, state and potentially national events for a range of sports. It may feature:

• ten multi-sport courts, including one show court
• squash courts with movable walls to allow for flexibility of use
• multi-use rooms available for programs such as yoga, dance, martial arts, and special events
• a covered outdoor rink for roller-skating and roller sports
• change rooms, offices and meeting rooms, kiosk, lounge area, amenities, first aid room, and storage space
• a car park, including electrical car charging stations, over 200 new trees, and bus drop off areas
• outdoor recreation spaces for walking and basketball, and outdoor fitness equipment
• shared pathway connections along South Creek, and additional landscaping. 

This facility will adjoin the Gipps Street Recreation Precinct which, once complete, will realise over $40m of investment in the rehabilitation of the former waste facility site.

Cook Park upgrade, St Marys ($19,120,000)

Cook Park, which attracts an estimated 175,000 visitors annually, will receive a significant upgrade to meet the needs of both the sporting and general community in an area of high population growth.

The upgrade will include a new amenities building, grandstand extension with spectator viewing facilities, a new synthetic playing surface, additional car parking spaces, a new walking circuit, landscaping and tree planting.

City Park, Penrith ($8,230,000)

This funding will be used to provide a significant boost to Penrith’s highly-anticipated urban retreat in the CBD.

The 7,000 sqm park on the corner of Henry and Station Streets is set to become a vibrant, green space for residents, visitors and workers to enjoy.

It will feature a central lawn with significant tree canopy cover, themed gardens, public artwork, shaded areas, water elements including misting clusters and ponds, amenities building with green roof, seating and civic area.

City Park will stimulate the local day and night time economy by encouraging people to venture further into the CBD to discover all the shops, cafes and restaurants on offer.

21 playspace upgrades, City-wide ($7,560,000)

A network of 21 playspaces across Penrith City will be upgraded with new play equipment, surface improvements, seating, tree planting, shade, landscaping, pathways and more, to ensure there are safe, modern and inclusive recreation spaces across Penrith for young people and families to enjoy.

Nursery upgrade and Cumberland Plain improvement project ($5,060,000)

Council will use this funding to deliver three key projects to support its Greening our City program including:

• upgrading Council’s existing nursery to support Council and NSW Government environmental programs. A key feature will be a 280% increase to the growing area from 795 sqm to 2265 sqm to increase plant production.
• expansion of Council’s Bushcare program to include more critical Cumberland Plain Woodland sites, more community events and better education resources.
• installation of a surveillance network to reduce illegal dumping and damage to key open spaces critical to Penrith’s natural environment.

Parker Street Reserve sport and recreation precinct, Penrith ($2,450,000)

Parker Street Reserve is a much-loved open space which attracts an estimated 200,000 visitors each year including rugby league, cricket and athletics groups, schools and residents. This funding will complement existing work to transform this precinct into a high-quality sport and recreation precinct, with the delivery of an upgrade to the existing athletics amenities building to provide storage and accessible toilet facilities, increased car parking, drainage, remediation of playing surfaces, a new and inclusive playspace, and extensive landscaping and tree planting.

Andromeda Oval upgrade, Cranebrook ($1,700,000)

An upgrade of the sports and recreation infrastructure at Andromeda Oval will benefit sports groups, schools and residents who use this facility. This project will include an upgrade to the existing amenities building, improved drainage and playing surfaces for the eastern fields, an upgrade to the multi-sport courts, and a car park extension.

Bennett Park mixed recreation space, St Marys ($1,500,000)

A new mixed recreation space is being constructed to address a gap in recreation infrastructure in St Marys. Being designed in close consultation with the local community, features of the final design will include skate spaces, a pump track, climbing equipment, a variety of play equipment for all ages, a multi-sport court, social spaces, shade, landscaping, tree planting and more.

The almost $30 million of WestInvest funding secured by Council in October 2022 will be used for two transformational projects – a central park in St Marys and the accelerated delivery of Gipps Street Recreation Precinct, a 32-hectare sport and recreation development in Claremont Meadows.

To find out more about these projects, go to:

Indoor multi-sports arena: penrith.city/sportsarena

City Park: penrith.city/citypark

21 playspace upgrades: penrith.city/playgrounds

Nursery upgrade and Cumberland Plain improvement project: penrith.city/bushland-current-projects

Cook Park upgrade, Parker Street Reserve sport and recreation precinct, Andromeda Oval upgrade: penrith.city/sports-upgrades

Bennett Park mixed recreation space: penrith.city/recreation-upgrades

 

 

 

 

Information contained within this news release was correct as at Tuesday, 31 January 2023.