Housing, jobs, environment top priorities for Western Sydney councils

Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC) has formally adopted a set of Strategic Priorities outlining the organisation’s core work direction and objectives for the period 2022-2026.

The 2022-2026 WSROC Strategic Priorities document was formally endorsed at the peak body for councils in Greater Western Sydney’s Board of Directors Meeting in August.

Earlier this year, Mayors and Councillors representing more than 1,000,000 citizens of Greater Western Sydney —including Blacktown City, Blue Mountains City, Cumberland City, Hawkesbury City, and Liverpool City — assembled in Windsor for a special Strategy Planning and Priorities Workshop to setWSROC’s agenda for the next four years.

A draft 2022-2026 WSROC Strategic Priorities document was the major outcome of the workshop, which was subsequently reviewed by councils and formalised by the WSROC Board.

Focusing on greater consideration for the most vulnerable in the Greater Western Sydney region, WSROC’s new Strategic PrioritiesAreasinclude:

• Supporting vulnerable communities: as a key consideration under all priorities
• Financial resilience of councils: to ensure local government can meet community needs
• Housing: through leadership on social and affordable housing
• Climate change and resilience: addressing emissions reduction; energy efficiency; urban and extreme heat; and coordinated catchment management
• Waste management and resource recovery: to assist councils to strategically plan for and deliver more sustainable and affordable waste and recycling services.
• Employment: to improve local employment prospects
• Transport: a comprehensive, integrated transport network for Western Sydney.

“Development of the 2022-2026 WSROC Strategic Priorities document involved an exciting exchange of ideas and insights with fellow Councillors from across the Greater Western Sydney region and an opportunity to hear from subject matter experts on crucial issues for Western Sydney,” said WSROC President, Councillor Barry Calvert.

“The input from all Councillors was essential to ensure we, as a collective, are tackling the issues most critical for our region.

“We were privileged, too, to have guidance at the workshop by leading experts from Western Sydney University, Professor of Economic Geography, Professor Phillip O’Neill, and Dr Zelmarie Cantillon, an authority on cultural infrastructure.”

He said a key feature of WSROC’s newly adopted strategic priorities is to work with all major political parties to clarify their policies on both social housing and affordable housing.

“This is especially important for more vulnerable members of our communities, including those on low incomes, recently arrived migrants and refugees, single parents, and others,” said Mr Calvert.

“The constructive, bi-partisan approach that has been a feature of the development of our 2022-2026 WSROC Strategic Priorities gives me great confidence that by working together, local government can make excellent headway with the many critical issues confronting our communities.”

Use this link to view the 2022-2026 WSROC Strategic Priorities document.