Mayoral Column – Council keeps focus on Penrith’s future

Wednesday, 1 July 2026

Following last week’s hand down of the 2026-27 NSW Budget, Penrith City Council welcomes commitments that will see positive outcomes for Penrith, and we continue to advocate for significant infrastructure required to support the City’s growth.

We are pleased that the Australian and NSW Governments have committed an additional $200 million to further upgrade Elizabeth Drive. Part of this is in our Local Government Area and directly connects to the Western Sydney Airport, that will see its first freight flights take off later this month.

It’s also good to see a further $26 million over 4 years committed to plan for significant road infrastructure in Western Sydney. Penrith is at the heart of one of Australia’s fastest-growing regions and this investment is essential to support Western Sydney communities.

While the specifics are not yet known, Council will continue to work with other levels of government to bring forward the priorities already identified by our community.

We are pleased to see ongoing investment across major transport and infrastructure projects – continued funding for projects that are underway.

Council also welcomes the investment in social infrastructure such as schools and Nepean Hospital as this is essential for well-managed growth and the social well-being of our community.

As our community faces cost-of-living pressures, it’s positive to see fee relief around tolls but bigger picture, forward-thinking is needed here. To ensure better social and environmental outcomes, we must reduce car dependency in the west.

Council is pushing for a longer-term view, continuing to strongly advocate to the Australian and NSW governments for better public transport and connectivity options across our City and beyond. At the top of the list is commitment to the full-length metro rail, from St Marys to Tallawong in the north and Bradfield to Macarthur in the south.

We look forward to further announcements between now and the State election in March. Given our region’s rapid transformation, we want to see commitments to our advocacy asks – delivery of the Castlereagh Connection, Werrington Arterial and Mulgoa Road stage 5, upgrade and reclassification of Luddenham Road, upgrade of Mamre Road, and construction of Devonshire Link Road.

From more housing options to enhanced liveability, learn about our ongoing advocacy at penrith.city/advocacypriorities.

Cr Todd Carney
Mayor of Penrith

Information contained within this news release was correct as at Wednesday, 1 July 2026.