Chairman of the Penrith Business Alliance Paul Brennan has expressed his
appreciation to Prime Minister Julia Gillard for launching PBA’s new Investment Prospectus.
The Prime Minister was accompanied by Senator Stephen Conroy, Minister for or Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy and David Bradbury, Assistant Treasurer and Member for Lindsay.
Mr Brennan said that the charter of the Penrith Business Alliance is to create 40,000 new
jobs by 2036.
The PBA believes Penrith can achieve this ambitious target but it will require the support of the State and Commonwealth governments to implement the PBA’s strategic programs.
He said if Western Sydney were be the engine room for growth and job creation, then the Government must give it due consideration as a region.
“We have strongly advocated for a Development Authority for Western Sydney, with sufficient resources from both levels of government to complete priority infrastructure projects that have hamstrung our development,” Mr Brennan said.
He said that it was greatly pleasing that the Australian Government had recognised the
work of the Penrith Business Alliance and Council.
In 2012, the City received a $13.5 million Commonwealth grant through the Suburban Jobs Program.
The grant was received by the University of Western Sydney which has provided $14.5 million to build a $28 million corporate centre at Werrington.
The Centre will act as an employment catalyst for attracting transformative business in areas such as civionics, communication arts and health in the proposed 58 hectare business park at Werrington. “This was made possible by the leadership provided by the Penrith Business Alliance in partnership with the University of Western Sydney and our Council” Mr Brennan said.
The PBA also received a $37,000 grant through the Commonwealth Department of Employment, Education and Work Place Relations to help our young people gain positive exposure to jobs in our growing health sector. This funding will support students gain positive exposure in the health industry, with some 13,000 new health jobs expected to be created in Penrith over the next 10–20 years.
Mr Brennan applauded the Prime Minister and the Government for the vision and jobs initiatives to be created through the establishment of “Industry Innovation Precincts.
“The announcement has added to the enthusiasm and resolve to work harder and with greater
dedication to create more sustainable communities.
''I can say very confidently that we have all the elements of such an Industry Innovation Precinct in Penrith for the Medical Technology Industry sector, a sector that contributes over $2.5billion to the NSW economy” Mr Brennan said.