Planning for growth and change in the Sydney Hills
The Sydney Hills is expected to grow by around 100,000 people in the next two decades. Norwest Business Park will add another 15,000 jobs in the same time, and planning is also well underway for new employment lands such as nearby Box Hill which will be home to 18,000 jobs with similar zonings to Castle Hill Industrial Park and Norwest Business Park.
The construction of the North West Rail Link will provide critical transport infrastructure for the Sydney Hills. More than just a new transport option, the rail line will represent a fundamental change in the way people in Sydney’s North West live, and even before it arrives, it will bring change. Like any major infrastructure project, the North West Rail is expected to bring a significant economic stimulus to not only the local economy, but also the Greater Western Sydney and NSW economies.
The Hills Shire Council has long been planning for the changes the rail will bring. The North West Rail link will be a catalyst for more homes to be built close to this major transport corridor, and planning for multi-level living in Castle Hill has begun. Council’s strategy is to ensure a range of housing options are located in and around town centres, so residents can enjoy these lifestyle options. As well as growth around the towns, rail will make the entire region more accessible, creating the need for more new homes in the less developed areas like Box Hill, North Kellyville, Rouse Hill and Balmoral Road.
Improved transport options will see change become quickly apparent in the region’s town centres. Both the Castle Hill and Rouse Hill shopping precincts have a railway station planned adjacent, and both will continue to grow – each with additional stages planned for the future. This will stimulate further growth in the retail and service industries, increasing business and job opportunities.
The North West Rail will have a significant impact on business. The Sydney Hills economy added $8 billion in Gross Regional Product to the state economy in 2011, and even further increases in economic growth expected from the rail line will provide a return on investment. Improved access to the Sydney CBD will create benefits for both employees and businesses. Two new railway stations are planned in Norwest Business Park, bringing plans for increased residential and commercial activity.
Like all change, the region can look forward to the opportunities and challenges that lay ahead.