The Macarthur region is one of Sydney’s fastest growing and developing areas.
There are an estimated 279,194 residents living in the Macarthur region, but the population is predicted to soar to 500,000 people by 2036. The population increase is being driven by a combination of affordable properties, the construction of new housing estates, and improved infrastructure across Greater Western Sydney.
These are four big changes that are helping to boost the appeal of the Macarthur region:
1. Western Sydney Airport
Extensive planning for the Western Sydney Airport is now underway, two years after the Australian Government announced that it would be built on the 1780-hectare site at Badgerys Creek.
According to the government’s report, an airport for Western Sydney: Building Western Sydney’s, the airport will open in the mid-2020s, with a single runway expected to cater to up to 10 million passengers a year.
This will increase to 37 million passengers by around 2050 when a second runway is completed. By around 2063, the airport is expected to accommodate about 82 passengers annually.
The government has estimated that the airport will bring 9000 jobs to Western Sydney by the 2030s, and 60,000 jobs in the long term.
2. New transport links
The Australian and NSW governments will spend $3.6 billion creating new and upgraded roads to support the planned Western Sydney Airport.
Under the Western Sydney Infrastructure Plan, the proposed plans include:
- Upgrading the Northern Road and Erskine Park Road – $35.8 million
- Construction of a new 16km M12 Motorway connecting the airport to Sydney’s motorway network- $1.25 billionUpgrading the intersection of Ross Street and Great Western Highway, Glenbrook – $5 million
- Upgrading the intersection of Ross Street and Great Western Highway, Glenbrook – $5 millionLocal road upgrades -$200 million
- Local road upgrades -$200 millionUpgrading Kent Road and Gipps Street, Claremont Meadows, to construct the Werrington Arterial Road – $65 million
- Upgrading Kent Road and Gipps Street, Claremont Meadows, to construct the Werrington Arterial Road – $65 million
- Upgrading Bringelly Road, between Camden Valley Way and the Northern Road – $509 million
The Australian government have also invested $26 million to develop a plan for rail access at the airport site.
3. Narellan Town Centre expansion
The Narellan Town Centre is currently undergoing a $200 million redevelopment that will see its retail space double from 36,000sq m to 72,000sq m.
It will include a new Target and Kmart, a refurbished and larger Woolworths and Coles supermarkets, 1500 new car park spaces, more than 100 retail stores, new entertainment and dining amenities, and 3000sq m of commercial space. The first stage of the expansion – a new north building – was completed in the middle of the year and opened in September. The entire project is due to be completed by mid-2017 and it is expected to create about 1750 jobs.
4. New housing
The last five years has seen a large boom in residential construction take place in the Macarthur region. According to demographers .id, the value of total building approvals soared from $604,127 to $1,844,393 between 2011 and 2016.
Numerous housing developments are being planned or under construction at sites including:
- Bardia
- Oran Park
- Cobbitty
- Gregory Hills
- Spring Farm
- Menangle Park
- Appin
- Gilead
- Wilton
With many buyers being priced out of suburbs close the Sydney CBD, they are increasingly coming to the Macarthur region looking for affordable homes. In particular, the region is attracting young families looking for freestanding houses with space and proximity to child-friendly amenities.
