Category: NSW News

The Minns Labor Government has unveiled the revitalised Nowra Workplace Hub following a $5 million investment, reinforcing its commitment to driving economic development and creating jobs across the South Coast and regional NSW.

The modernised hub spans 1,800 m² across two floors and will accommodate 250 employees from six government departments, boosting the NSW Government’s capacity to recruit employees who work near the communities they serve.

Works completed over the last 7 months include stripping out and rebuilding the office space, installing a concierge desk and security turnstiles, and adding amenities like bike racks and shower rooms.

The government’s central property agency, Property and Development NSW (PDNSW), prioritised local jobs during the project with lead contractor Intermain Pty Ltd partnering with 30 local subcontractors to deliver the refurbishment.

Built in the early 2000s, the original building has been transformed to support government employees living and working on the South Coast, attract diverse talent, and strengthen ties between agencies and the community.

The redevelopment provides modern workplace accommodation for tenants including the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI), the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ), the Department of Customer Service (DCS), the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) and the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW).

The upgrade targeted a 4.0 Star Green Star – Interiors rating and meets the latest NSW Government workplace design standards to ensure accessible, future-ready workspaces.

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:

“This revitalised Nowra Workplace Hub is a fantastic investment in the South Coast and the talented people who live and work here.

“This hub will help regional workers better serve communities across the South Coast and NSW, while supporting the local economy and creating new opportunities for people to build careers close to home.

“The South Coast now has a modern, contemporary government workspace which is vital  to attracting and retaining the best staff.”

Minister for the Illawarra and the South Coast Ryan Park said: 

“The completion of Nowra’s Workplace Hub is a win for the talented employees of the South Coast and the communities they work for.

“Modern office spaces foster economic growth by keeping and creating jobs in regional NSW.

“Nowra’s refreshed work hub provides upgraded facilities for hundreds of government employees who call the region home, and a welcome space for many more who travel to the South Coast for work.”

Member for South Coast Liza Butler said:

“I am pleased to see the completion of these offices which will from today empower hundreds of the South Coast’s government employees to do their best work.

“The space can be expanded further to welcome more public or private sector tenants, ensuring it remains a modern and valuable workspace long into the future.”

Work to deliver a new contemporary operating theatre and enhanced virtual care technology at Forbes Hospital has taken a key step forward with the project’s lead design team appointed to progress planning.

The Minns Labor Government is investing $20.2 million to deliver a new operating theatre and support clinical spaces at Forbes Hospital, bringing modern surgical facilities to one of the fastest growing populations in Western NSW Local Health District.

When complete, the new operating theatre will enable more health services to be provided closer to home.

The new operating theatre will replace the existing theatre and support contemporary models of surgical care by expanding the range of treatments available at the hospital.

The design team includes architect Fulton Trotter and Partners Architects, and project manager Acorn Project Advisory and cost manager MBM, who were appointed following a competitive tender process.

In the coming months, the design team will work with staff, community and the District to inform the early planning and design.

The new operating theatre will complement services currently provided at Forbes Hospital including:

• 24-hour Emergency Department
• acute and subacute medical, surgical, rehabilitation and palliative care services
• ambulatory care clinic
• birthing rooms and maternity beds
• renal dialysis chairs
• medical imaging
• community and primary health services.

The full range of inpatient and outpatient health services provided at Forbes will continue to be available while the new operating theatre works are completed.  

Staff, stakeholders, and the local community will be kept informed as the project progresses.

For more information visit the project website: https://www.nsw.gov.au/forbes-hospital-operating-theatre

Minister for Regional Health, Ryan Park:

“This is an exciting step forward that reaffirms the Minns Government’s commitment to rebuilding essential services by investing in the infrastructure regional communities need.

“The new, contemporary operating theatre will give patients improved access to surgical services in modern facilities and closer to home, while also helping to reduce waitlists.”

Member for Orange Phil Donato:

“Funding of a new operating theatre for Forbes’ Hospital was at the top of my budget request list last year.

“I sincerely thank Minister for Health Ryan Park MP for supporting my request to fund this vitally important health infrastructure project, last year announcing $20.2 million will go to building a modern operating theatre.

“I’m pleased to see the next steps being undertaken with the appointment of a design team to develop the theatre plans, ensuring the new health infrastructure meets the needs of the growing Forbes community.”

Labor Spokesperson for Orange Stephen Lawrence MLC:

“This $20 million investment in public health is what’s needed for a growing population, because it will enhance surgical care and deliver lasting benefits for Forbes and surrounding communities for years to come.”

Western Sydney communities from Penrith through to Campbelltown now have a start date for five new permanent bus routes, with the Minns Labor Government announcing the services to Western International Airport will commence on 5 July.

In uncertain times, families want confidence, security and a clear plan for the future and delivering the infrastructure growing communities need is a central part of that plan.

This $302.7 million investment in the five new routes is part of an overall $362.7 million investment allocated to new Western Sydney bus services by the Minns Labor Government since taking office.

Starting three months ahead of passenger airline services, the routes from Penrith (790), Campbelltown (845), Liverpool (825 and 860) and Mount Druitt (772), will be begin connecting surrounding communities and businesses along with locals who work at the new airport in construction and freight.

As Western Sydney continues to grow, these services will ensure local communities are connected to the jobs and economic opportunities created by the new airport.

These communities will now have new buses running every 30 minutes from 5am to 10pm, seven days a week from July, with 43 new electric buses that provide a quieter, smoother and more comfortable ride and support the NSW Government’s goal of net zero emissions by 2050.

They are fully air conditioned, feature low kerb access and luggage racks to make trips to and from the future airport easier. Fit-out and finishing work took place at the Volgren facility in Ingleburn and at the Foton facility in Nowra as part of a boost for local production and expertise.

These five permanent routes will be complemented by WSI Link, the interim bus service that will connect the new airport to St Mary’s train station while the new Western Sydney Airport Metro is being delivered. These 30-minute frequency services will begin when passenger flights commence.

In addition to delivering the bus services to these historically underserved communities, the Minns Labor Government is also delivering improvements to the supporting bus infrastructure including upgrading bus depots, building bus shelters and further road improvements.

The Busways’ Penrith depot has now reached a 50% milestone for charging capacity, catering for 18 of the new electric buses. The remaining 25 new electric buses will operate out of the Transit Systems depot at Bradbury, which has been electrified to cater for the new bus fleet.

The NSW Government will also support local councils to build bus shelters, which are common in many parts of Sydney but much rarer in Western Sydney, despite experiencing much hotter temperatures. This support will be delivered through a trial of the $1.5 million Bus Shelter Program, where councils can apply for grants to install bus shelters along new and enhanced routes.

These initiatives will be complemented by work along Badgerys Creek Road to deliver safer and more comfortable access into the new airport, with completion expected by July.

This investment in NSW bus services comes from the Minns Labor Government’s 2025 budget commitment of $452 million to increase and improve bus services.

Read about New Bus Services for Western Sydney

Premier Chris Minns said:

“When Western Sydney grows, the transport network needs to grow with it, and that’s exactly what we’re delivering.

“These new bus routes are about making sure Western Sydney communities are properly connected to the new airport and the economic opportunities it will create.

“We know there’s more work to do, but projects like this are part of a clear plan to build the infrastructure our communities need and make sure Western Sydney shares in the opportunities of the future.”

Minister for Transport John Graham said:

“Hundreds and thousands of residents in this part of Sydney have been chronically underserved by buses. The wait for decent bus services will be over in July as these five permanent routes get rolling.

“Whether it’s taking up a new job at the new airport or travelling to work anywhere along these routes, these buses will connect the people of Western Sydney to new economic opportunities with a cost-effective convenient transport option.

“These state-of-the-art electric buses have been fitted out in Western Sydney and Nowra as we work to rebuild local bus manufacturing in NSW after the former governments sent all of those jobs overseas.

“This fleet is supported by major upgrades to bus depots and local roads, reflecting feedback received from more than 3000 respondents to our community consultation.”

Minister for Western Sydney Prue Car said:

“Beyond the state-of-the-art buses themselves, one of the issues raised by people around western Sydney is the need for improved bus waiting facilities to shelter passengers through the summer heat and in times of rain.

“While the installation and ongoing maintenance of bus shelter infrastructure is a council responsibility, we recognise the demands on council and as such are trialling this Bus Shelter Program to encourage Councils to provide shelters for bus passengers.

“Around 1700 electric buses are expected to be operating across Sydney’s road network by 2028, delivering long-term environmental and customer benefits, so it’s essential all the infrastructure is in place to support their service.”

Chris Wolf, Busways Director of Assets and Safety said:

“There has been close collaboration between Busways, Transport for NSW and Endeavour Energy to plan, deliver and commission complex upgrades within an operational depot environment.

“The new onsite 1.5MVA electrical substation was activated in December in a seamless transition of power while the depot remained in full operation.

“The upgrade also supported Western Sydney jobs, with electrical, civil and gantry works delivered by local contractors based in Doonside, Warwick Farm and Prestons.

Rino Matarazzo, Transit Systems Managing Director said:

“These new services are a major step forward for Western Sydney.

“We’re increasing frequency, improving connections, and making it easier for people to get to work, school and home safely and reliably.

“Western Sydney is growing rapidly and our network is evolving to meet that demand.”

The NSW Minister for Education, Prue Car, refused to commit to supporting higher wages for community preschool educators in today’s Budget Estimates hearing.

Instead, Minister Car passed the buck to parent-run community services, claiming that “the community preschools actually, many of them, I am sorry to admit this, have the capacity to pay their teachers…”, stating that “we urge them to pay their workers fairly.”
 
Shadow Minister for Early Education, Felicity Wilson, said the comments from the Minister ignore the Fair Work Commission’s decision, which explicitly stated that “outside of government funding, NSW community preschools can only generate revenue through fees to families.”
 
“Community preschools strive to be affordable for families and are already operating on incredibly tight budgets. Suggesting they simply absorb the cost of higher wages will either lead to higher costs for families or force community preschools to close,” Ms Wilson said.
 
“Even in the face of the overwhelming findings of the Fair Work Commission that “NSW preschools are reliant on NSW Government funding for the public provision of preschool services” the Minns Labor Government refuse to ensure that community preschool’s in NSW remains affordable for families.”
 
Minister Car instead verballed the sector, claiming that many of them “…have the capacity to pay their teachers…”, a claim already rejected by evidence to the Fair Work Commission which demonstrated that these reserves (not profits) are required to ensure solvency and are “a one-off pool of resources and are not appropriate sources to fund ongoing wages liabilities into perpetuity.”
 
The community preschool sector has directly contradicted these claims by Minister Car, with Drummoyne Community Preschool Centre Director Helen Millar saying that “decisions are being made without our voices being heard and we’re really concerned that funding has been reduced for us because that means the onus has to be put on families to have to pay for that”.
 
“Yes, we want to fight for fair wages, we deserve fair wages, every educator here puts in a lot more hours than what they’re paid for but it’s no good fighting for fair wages if community based preschools are becoming a dying breed – we have to fight for them first,” Ms Millar said.

Ms Wilson said that the NSW Liberals and Nationals are focused on ensuring that community preschools across NSW receive the support they need to ensure families have access to quality, safe, affordable education that meets their needs.
 
“We support giving kids the best start in life. As Liberals and Nationals, we fundamentally support choice, including early education. Community preschools are a vital part of delivering that choice to families.”

“Yet again, we have a system in crisis. And yet again, we are not seeing any tangible plans from the NSW Government.” – Australian Medical Association.
 
Today’s Bureau of Health Information (BHI) Healthcare Quarterly report for October to December 2025 shows patient treatment waiting (and waiting… and waiting) times have blown out in emergency departments across NSW.
 
A record number of patients walked out without starting or finishing treatment in an ED, almost 80,000 people – a rise of 16 percent in a year.
 
Alarmingly, almost 35 percent of those were in triage category 3 and in need of urgent care for potentially life-threatening conditions.
 
NSW Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane said patients are experiencing more waiting and less care under the Minns Labor Government.
 
“When nearly 80,000 patients are walking out of hospital without care that shows something is going seriously wrong in our health system,” Ms Sloane said.
 
“Emergency departments are meant to save lives – not test how long people can wait.”
 
“Patients deserve a health system that works when they need it most and that is what the Liberals and Nationals will deliver.”
 
The percentage of T2 Emergency Patients (the sickest patients) being treated on time at Westmead and Nepean Hospitals is the lowest it has been since the pandemic.
 
A patient at Westmead is now spending an additional hour and a half in ED compared to when the Liberals and Nationals were in power.
 
Shadow Minister for Health and Regional Health Sarah Mitchell said the issue wasn’t just confined to Sydney, with patients spending 12 minutes longer in emergency departments across the state compared to this time last year.

“Increased wait times are leading to record numbers of patients walking out and giving up on getting care when they need it most,” Mrs Mitchell said.

“Three years in and the situation is getting worse, not better. Ryan Park can’t keep blaming everyone else while hospital performance collapses on his watch. NSW patients deserve better.”

The Minns Labor Government is facing growing criticism over continued delays to the $3.1 billion M6 motorway, with motorists in Southern Sydney still waiting for clear answers on when the project will be completed.
 
Shadow Minister for Roads, Mark Coure MP, said the project has effectively stalled for more than two years while commuters continue to face congestion and uncertainty.
 
“This project has been stuck in neutral for more than two years and commuters in Southern Sydney are the ones paying the price,” Mr Coure said.
 
“Southern Sydney motorists were promised a motorway, instead they’ve been handed delays, excuses and a construction site going nowhere.”
 
Mr Coure said the Government has had ample time to get the project back on track but has failed to deliver progress.
 
“The Government has had two years to get this project moving again, yet in that time more than $5 million has reportedly been spent on lawyers rather than getting the job done,” he said.
 
“$5 million could fix a lot of potholes across Sydney, but instead it has been wasted while this project sits idle.”
 
Mr Coure said that after a day of intense questioning in Parliament, the Minister announced it would give the consortium another three months to deliver progress.
 
“Today in Parliament, the Minister had no timeline, no delivery date, no opening date and no idea when motorists will finally be driving on this critical piece of infrastructure.”
 
“If this is how Labor manages a $3 billion road project, it’s no wonder motorists have lost confidence in Labor’s ability to deliver.”
 
““Labor is good at cutting ribbons on Liberals and Nationals projects, but when challenges arise — like on the M6 — they’ve shown they don’t have the experience to manage major infrastructure.”

Netball NSW has announced the leadership teams for its 2026 17U and 19U State Teams ahead of the upcoming National Netball Championships in Melbourne next month.

Sutherland Shire’s Evalina Carneiro has been appointed captain of the 17U State Team, with Isabella Christian (Illawarra District) and Marley Dighton (Ku-ring-gai) named as vice captains.

Carneiro enters the tournament following a standout year that has seen her recognised as one of the state’s most promising young defenders. A composed and instinctive player, the Sutherland Shire product recently signed as a training partner GIANTS Netball for the 2026 Suncorp Super Netball season after an impressive year representing New South Wales at the 17U level.

Campbelltown District’s Ellie Hart (GIANTS Academy) will lead the 19U State Team as captain, supported by vice captains Matilda Fanning (Sutherland Shire/GIANTS Academy) and Paige O’Neill (Eastwood Ryde/QBE Swifts Academy).

A member of the GIANTS Netball Academy, Hart has continued to develop through the high-performance pathway and was part of the squad that travelled to the Riverina earlier this year as part of the GIANTS Netball Riverina Road Trip. The experience provided Hart with valuable exposure to elite environments and further strengthened her leadership credentials ahead of the national tournament.

Netball NSW General Manager – Performance Pathways Mardi Aplin said the leadership appointments recognise the athletes’ strong performances, work ethic and ability to inspire their teammates both on and off the court.

These athletes demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities throughout the selection process, during our recent simulation camp and across the team’s entire preparation for the National Netball Championships,” Aplin said.

They have consistently set the standard with their work ethic, professionalism and ability to bring their teammates together, which are all critical qualities for leaders at this level.

They represent the depth of emerging talent in New South Wales and we’re excited to see them lead their teams on the national stage in Melbourne.”

The week-long tournament will run from 9–15 April, with the nation’s brightest emerging talent descending on Melbourne to compete for the title of national champions. New South Wales will enter the tournament with strong recent form, with the 19U team returning as defending champions after claiming the title last year, while the 17U side finished as runners-up in a closely contested final.

Since its inception in 1985, the National Netball Championships has played a pivotal role in shaping the future of the sport, serving as a proven launching pad for many of Australia’s biggest stars.

The event provides invaluable development opportunities for athletes, coaches, umpires and officials, with many participants progressing to Suncorp Super Netball and Australian Diamonds level.

The Minns Labor Government is delivering a strong pipeline of major sporting events for 2026, securing 34 events that will drive visitation, support local businesses and generate significant economic activity across Sydney and regional NSW.

This month, NSW will welcome Asia’s top female footballers and their legion of fans for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, with Stadium Australia hosting two Quarterfinals, a Semi-final, the tournament’s Final and an important Matildas group match this Sunday 8 March on International Women’s Day. In total, Sydney will host 11 tournament matches, the most of any host city.

Through Destinations NSW, the tournament leads an action-packed sporting event calendar that throughout 2026 is projected to attract more than 280,000 visitors to the state and inject more than $275 million into the NSW visitor economy.

A new report from the World Economic Forum (WEF) has highlighted sports tourism as the fastest-growing segment of the global tourism industry. In 2025, sports tourism accounted for 10 per cent of global travel expenditure, with revenues growing at a compound annual rate of 28 per cent since 2020, above the 22 per cent growth seen across all tourism.

Research by Expedia Group shows the impact of sports-related travel extends beyond the host city. Three in five travellers with trips longer than a day stay in a destination outside the event location at some point during their trip and spend an average of more than $2500 across various trip elements.

The NSW Visitor Economy Strategy 2035 outlines the need for an event calendar that drives year-round visitation to support businesses and jobs. World-class entertainment, sport, culture and business events deliver major economic, social and cultural benefits, and stimulate regional growth.

The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics data confirms the impact of sports tourism on the NSW visitor economy. In December 2025, NSW welcomed 48,790 UK visitors (up from 41,970 in December 2019), including thousands of Barmy Army fans ahead of the New Year Test in Sydney.

In 2026, NSW has already hosted the United Cup, the Sydney New Year’s Test, UFC 325, Bathurst 12 Hour, Sail GP, Street League Skateboarding and Sydney 500. Major sporting events in the coming months include FIFA Series, State of Origin, Tottenham versus Chelsea for Sydney Super Cup, NRL Grand Final, Bledisloe Cup, Bathurst 1000, Rugby League World Cup, and TCS Sydney Marathon World Major, showcasing NSW as the nation’s home of major sporting event experiences.

Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper said:

“Visitors are seeking genuine connections with destinations and sporting events are the perfect way to soak up the atmosphere that makes a visit to NSW so unforgettable.

“Travellers are prioritising experiences over attractions, and nothing beats the buzz that comes from being in full house for a Wallabies Test at Accor Stadium, or being trackside at Mount Panorama for the Bathurst 1000, or cheering on the Socceroos before they head off for the FIFA World Cup.

“Sporting events are sparking the decision to travel, but fans are staying long after the final whistle blows, immersing themselves in experiences across the state. Sports tourism doesn’t just fill stadiums; it fills hotels, restaurants, pubs and theatres, supporting thousands of businesses and jobs that rely on year-round tourism.”

The Albanese and Minns Labor Governments have set the opening date for the brand-new M12 Motorway – the driveway to the new Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport.  

After four years of construction, Western Sydney’s new, state-of-the-art motorway will open to traffic in the early hours of Saturday, 14 March, in time for the commencement of cargo and passenger flights at the new airport later in the year. 

The 16-kilometre section of the M12 connects Elizabeth Drive in the east to The Northern Road in the west, delivering an intersection-free, 100 km/h run straight to the airport precinct. It will serve as the key gateway to the new airport and the Western Sydney Aerotropolis, which will become a thriving innovation precinct and create thousands of jobs for the region.

The M12 is designed to seamlessly integrate with the wider road network, improving connectivity for motorists and freight operators across Sydney. The final component – the M7/M12 Interchange at Cecil Hills – remains on track to open mid-year delivering a motorway-to-motorway and intersection-free connection between the M12 and the M7. 

The motorway between Elizabeth Drive and The Northern Road will open in the early hours of Saturday morning, because the Albanese and Minns Governments are determined to open the new road to Western Sydney residents at the earliest opportunity. 

The $2.1 billion project is funded with a $1.63 billion investment from the Albanese Government and a $408 million investment from the Minns Labor Government. It is expected to take around 25,000 vehicles a day off local roads, taking pressure off suburban streets and improving travel times and reliability across the region.

The Government has applied lessons from other new road corridors to ensure motorists can drive the M12 with confidence from day one. Signage, line-marking and lane guidance have been tested across key connections, with interactive driver animations available online so drivers can familiarise themselves with the route before opening.

Project highlights include:

• Around 181,933 cubic metres of concrete used, equivalent to 73 Olympic pools
• 5,217,117 hours worked
• 10,000 people employed, including 4,900 local workers
• Over 2.6 million m³ of earthworks completed, equivalent to 1,064 Olympic pools
• Construction of 17 bridges
• 461 bridge piles installed
• 637 bridge girders installed
• Over 1,5 million shrubs and grasses planted
• 18,500 trees planted
• 2,320 bridge lineal metres delivered

Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns:

“As a direct gateway to Western Sydney International Airport, this brand new toll-free motorway is critical to the future of this growing region of New South Wales.     

“Communities in Western Sydney deserve this world-class infrastructure which will ease pressure on local roads, cut travel times and improve connectivity with the rest of Sydney’s road network.

“From Saturday, thousands of motorists will have the chance to use this new motorway for the very first time to more quickly and easily get to where they need to go.” 

Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King:

“Sydney’s new airport will connect Western Sydney to the world, and the M12 will play a critical role getting passengers to the terminal, and freight to the tarmac. 

“More than 8,000 people have worked on this project, more than 5,000 of them have been from here in Western Sydney. This road is their legacy, and I have no doubt many of them will use it, to get their families to the airport ahead of a big holiday in the years to come. 

“This project is part of the Albanese and Minns Government’s unprecedented investment in the future of Western Sydney, building the infrastructure this community needs to deliver jobs and connect it to the world.”

Deputy Premier of New South Wales and Minister for Western Sydney Prue Car:

“This vital project is part of the $7.4 billion the Minns Labor Government has invested in Western Sydney roads since March 2023. 

“This is a good outcome for Western Sydney – a brand-new, toll-free motorway that takes pressure off local roads and gives people more time back with their families.  

“Under the former government, residents in growing communities have had to live with the impact of infrastructure being delivered decades late or not built at all. 

“This is an example of critical infrastructure being built and opened first. 

“With the opening of the M12, together with making the toll cap permanent, the Minns Labor Government is delivering practical cost-of-living relief for families.”

NSW Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison:

“The M12 is a game-changing addition to the network – 16 kilometres of toll-free motorway and the new driveway to Western Sydney International Airport.

“Around 25,000 vehicles a day are expected to use this road – that’s traffic we can take off local streets by providing a high-quality, free alternative.

“And we’ve learnt from other new corridors: signage, line-marking and lane guidance have been tested at key connections, and drivers can preview the route using online driver animations so they can hit the M12 with confidence from day one.”

Senator for New South Wales, Tony Sheldon:

“I’ve raised my kids in Western Sydney for more than 15 years, so I know firsthand how much time people here spend on the road just trying to get to work, school or sport.

“The M12 will take pressure off local roads and make everyday travel easier for families across Western Sydney – meaning less time sitting in traffic and more time being where you want to be. This is what Labor Governments delivering for Western Sydney looks like.”

Federal Member for Werriwa Anne Stanley:

“Western Sydney families know the cost of congestion: it steals time from dinner tables, weekend sport, and being with the people you love. The toll-free M12 gives that time back.

“This is the driveway to Western Sydney International Airport, and it means people in our community will have a faster, more reliable run to jobs and opportunities as the airport opens later this year.” 

 State Member for Leppington Nathan Hagarty:

“People in Western Sydney have waited long enough. 

“The Liberals and Nationals left Sydney with tollmania and the Minns Labor Government was determined the M12 would open toll-free, and that’s exactly what we’re delivering.”

Member for Liverpool Charishma Kaliyanda:

“The toll-free M12 is now open, and it’s a big win for Liverpool and Western Sydney.

“This motorway will provide the essential link for local families, workers and businesses to move across Western Sydney and connect to the new airport precinct.

“Motorists in Liverpool can breathe a sigh of relief, as the Minns Labor Government is ensuring the M12 is toll-free, helping manage cost-of-living pressures for Western Sydney households.” 

A new billion-dollar Aldi Automated Distribution Centre has been approved in the Aerotropolis, continuing momentum and signalling growing global investment confidence in one of Western Sydney’s most strategically important precincts.

The innovative logistics hub, will be the size of 15 soccer fields and is expected to create around 3,700 construction jobs and 585 permanent local jobs, providing a major economic boost for Western Sydney.

Located beside the new Western Sydney Airport the global retail giant will be able to take advantage of incoming national and international freight to supply their more than 200 of its stores across the state.

Once built it will operate 24/7 with around 80 per cent of operations to be automated and rooftop solar panels, energy efficient design to help the facility reach a goal of net-zero operations by 2035.

The Aldi project is the biggest distribution centre green lit in the Aerotropolis and the first state significant approval within the Ingham Property Group Master Plan area, which is a key Aerotropolis precinct designed for mixed‑use industrial, commercial and retail opportunities located adjacent to Bradfield City, Australia’s first new city in 100 years.

The recently released draft Sydney Plan outlines the long‑term vision for the Western Sydney Aerotropolis and Bradfield City as a nationally significant centre for jobs, industry and global connectivity, anchored by Western Sydney International Airport and new city‑shaping infrastructure.

Since 2023 the Minns Labor Government have approved seven projects worth more than $1.9 billion in the Aerotropolis with a further 25 worth more than $5.8 billion in the pipeline.

Approved State Significant Developments in the Aerotropolis, include the Bradfield City’s 2 Advanced Manufacturing Research Facilities and large-scale industrial estates such as the Elizabeth Enterprise Precinct and Barings Luddenham Industrial Estate.

Deputy Premier of New South Wales and Minister for Western Sydney Prue Car said:

“This billion dollar investment will create more than 3,700 jobs and over 500 ongoing roles, a strong show of confidence in the potential of the Aerotropolis precinct.

“The Minns Labor Government is delivering on our promise to grow Western Sydney by backing projects that create jobs, attract investment, and unlock opportunity.

“This project will further solidify Western Sydney as a critical hub of employment, industry, and innovation.”

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“This approval will enable a $1 billion investment that will create thousands of jobs cementing the Aerotropolis as an engine room for jobs growth.

“The Aerotropolis was designed to spark new industries and future-focused jobs, and Aldi’s investment decision shows that vision is taking shape.

“With Western Sydney International Airport opening in 2026, the timing of this approval underscores the growing recognition of Western Sydney as a strategic gateway for national supply chains and international markets.”