The largest creator of new jobs in Penrith over the next 20 years is expected to come from the health and wellness industry, including some 13,000 estimated jobs with the development of a world-class health and education facility.
The NSW government nominated the Penrith Business Alliance (PBA), in 2010, as the lead agency to report on the development of a Penrith Health and Education Precinct.
The precinct is focussed around the rapidly growing Nepean public and private hospitals, the Nepean Hospital Specialised Clinic, the Kingswood campus of TAFE NSW-Western Sydney Institute, the University of Western Sydney and the University of Sydney’s, Sydney Medical School Nepean.
In a report to Penrith City Council on its performance in 2010-2011, the PBA said the strategic vision for the precinct was completed, in partnership with the state government, in February 2011.
The vision aims to create local jobs, grow the skills base of the region and attract new investment to Penrith through the delivery of projects focussed around four themes: world leading health services; education and training related to health and wellbeing, research in medicine and preventative health; and business opportunities related to health, medicine and wellbeing.
To implement the vision a number of projects have commenced, including establishing an advisory group; seeking state government preparation of a growth infrastructure plan, receipt by UWS of $13.5 million federal funding towards the establishment of Werrington Business Park; and development of a funding and operational strategy for the Nepean Medical Research Institute.
