Adam Leto hopes to bolster the relationship between regions to benefit infrastructure and growth. Photo: Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue.
Combining the industry strengths of Western Sydney and the Illawarra and improving connections could create opportunities for the two areas to form a ‘mega region’, says an advocacy expert who will present the case at The Illawarra Connection’s next event.
Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue CEO Adam Leto has helped his community have a voice in important conversations about growth and change for the past decade. Now, the advocacy group has identified a relationship with the Illawarra as key to ensuring the strength and longevity of both regions.
“We think it presents a number of opportunities that could help drive economic development, improve productivity and deliver better outcomes for communities,” Adam said.
“There were some really clear links between what was happening at that industry level, what could be leveraged further south and where there was common ground that both regions could build off to make a mega region in NSW.”
Last year the group released an extensive report outlining the potential for stronger strategic links between the two regions, focused on people, products and policy.
It explored the existing relationships between the regions with many residents travelling for either employment or recreation and the mutual strengths both areas exhibited in industries such as health, education and research, manufacturing and logistics and freight.
“We know that there’s a key synergy there between the two regions; we wanted to highlight what those were and then also look at where the gaps were so we could use that as part of our advocacy in coming years,” Adam said.
“There’s a really strong economic narrative tied to these two places; with the right support you can really see a growth in jobs, investment and productivity.
“I think both regions and both communities can really benefit from a more formalised arrangement; one that is recognised strategically by governments at all levels.”
He said the government’s Future Made in Australia plan and net zero goals as well as the new Western Sydney Airport would provide unique opportunities including creating better freight paths between Port Kembla and the new airport.
“The time is right now to be having these conversations,” Adam said.
“It’s understanding how do these two areas leverage these existing strengths and tie that into the current policy work that’s happening federally so we can start to see more things being built in Western Sydney and the Illawarra.
“We know that there’s a strong manufacturing pedigree there; we want to make sure that we can remain one of the manufacturing powerhouses of the country.”
The government has already shown recognition of the importance of infrastructure to connect these key areas with the Outer South Western Transport plan in progress as well as a Greater Macarthur and Wilton Infrastructure Plan in the works to outline how those suburbs will support 30,000 new homes over the next two decades.
But, Adam says, it will be important that advocacy continues and is coordinated.
“We want to be seen both sides of the border singing from the same hymn sheet,” Adam said.
“What I think the next step looks like is making sure that message is consistent, it’s loud and it’s reaching the right audiences.”
Although the Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue already has strong relationships with the University of Wollongong and Ports NSW, Adam hopes to expand its connections and engage more stakeholders at The Illawarra Connection’s dinner meeting on Tuesday 5 August.
“I’d love to be able to open up the conversation and to hear from others,” he said.
“We don’t see ourselves as the experts on everything; our advocacy comes from engagement with stakeholders so the more views and positions that we can hear from the better, and the more rounded and thorough our positions are.”
More information of the vision for the regions is available through the Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue’s Wollongong and the West report, with updates available on the Outer South West Integrated Transport Plan through the Transport for NSW website, and the Greater Macarthur and Wilton Infrastructure Plan through Infrastructure NSW.
To find out more about The Illawarra Connection and member events visit its website.
