Western Sydney’s business and community groups have said that the NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s commitment to relocate the Powerhouse Museum to Parramatta will deliver thousands of jobs to the region and provide a much-needed economic boost.

The Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue and the Western Sydney Business Chamber have been long-term advocates of the move and acknowledged the Premier’s personal support for this project.

“The delay of ANZ Stadium is a blow, but we are buoyed by the Premier’s assurance that the new Powerhouse Museum will be constructed in Parramatta,” Western Sydney Business Chamber Executive Director, David Borger, said.

“Powerhouse Parramatta is all about jobs, jobs, jobs. It will deliver more than 4,000 jobs and redefine an entire city, its importance can’t be over-stated.

“Now that the NSW Government has locked-in its support, we can all move forward and get on with the job of delivering the infrastructure and projects that will stimulate economic activity and employment growth.”

Construction of the Powerhouse Parramatta is expected to start in early 2021, with contracts for the project expected to be awarded over the coming months.

Chair of the Dialogue, Christopher Brown AM, said the NSW Government’s newly-established Infrastructure and Job Accelerator Fund provided a great job-generating platform, particularly in the hardest hit areas of tourism and hospitality.

“The redevelopment of ANZ Stadium is still needed, and we’re confident that it will happen down the track. But in the meantime, if the Government is looking for “shovel-ready” projects to kick start the economy, it doesn’t have to look very far,” Mr Brown said.

“There are a number of visitor, tourism and urban renewal opportunities at Sydney Olympic Park, including plans for a wave park, as well as the development of Western Sydney’s very own convention centre within the RAS Showgrounds. Projects that are ready to go and could help re-ignite a precinct and spark its economy.”