Having already secured major deals with aerospace, defence and education institutions, the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government will now turn its attention to attracting agribusiness to the Western Sydney Aerotropolis.
Ten MoUs signed to date will contribute to the creation of 200,000 jobs at the Aerotropolis, with Premier Gladys Berejiklian today announcing that a new agribusiness precinct will contribute 2500 direct jobs and support up to 12,000 more.
“We’ve worked hard to bring unemployment down to a record low of 3.9 per cent and our plans will continue to create more jobs for people across the State. I’m particularly excited about the jobs and opportunities that the airport will create for families and future generations in Western Sydney,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Western Sydney Airport and the precincts we are delivering around the airport will create tens of thousands of jobs over the next decade and support employment across NSW.
“I’m also thrilled that the agribusiness precinct will support farming jobs by enabling even more of our world-class fresh produce to be exported to the world.” The new agribusiness precinct will link directly with the Sydney Markets, which has agreed to have a base at the Western Sydney Aerotropolis. It will see NSW’s worldclass fresh produce be exported to the rest of the world in record time.
The agribusiness precinct will consist of a series of high-tech farming and climate controlled glasshouses that will produce fresh food and handle incoming produce from NSW farms for global export.
For the first time, it will mean that food produced in NSW can be flown from the farm gate to international consumers within 24 hours.
Minister for Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said Western Sydney Airport was creating major opportunities for families and businesses.
“The airport is a game changer for Western Sydney and for NSW. If you are a young family living in Western Sydney, the employment opportunities being created through initiatives like the agribusiness precinct are incredibly exciting,” he said.
At the same time the NSW Government is creating the jobs for the future in the Aerotropolis, it is also making a significant investment to upgrade the road network in the area to support the new industries.
Some $3.6 billion is being invested to duplicate The Northern Road and Bringelly Road, with construction on both projects already well underway. Planning is continuing on the new M12 motorway which will link the M7 and The Northern Road to the Western Sydney Airport.
The NSW Government has also announced today that the Western City and Aerotropolis Authority (WCAA) will be located in Penrith. The WCAA is tasked with planning and leading the development of the Western Sydney Aerotropolis.