Blueprint forum welcomes investment in the North West and puts local jobs in focus 

The North West Business Chamber has welcomed the investment in the region’s future following its Blueprint 2026 forum, which brought together 72 members of the local business community on Wednesday, 7 October.

Held at Riverstone Business Park, “Blueprint 2026 – From Plan to Place: Jobs, Growth and Riverstone’s Next Chapter” featured presentations from Member for Riverstone Warren Kirby MP, NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully MP, and Richards master planner Soren Yde Jensen.

The forum focused on how planning, infrastructure and investment can turn the North West’s population growth into local employment and business opportunities.

In its opening address, the Chamber urged participants to look beyond housing growth and consider the kind of community being created.

“Our vision shouldn’t simply be about building more homes and finding better ways to move people out of the North West every morning,” Sue Lawrence Chamber President  stated.

“It should be about creating a place where people can live, work, learn, build businesses and create opportunities right here.”

Minister Scully outlined the Sydney Plan’s approach to aligning homes, jobs and infrastructure, with more homes in Sydney’s east and more jobs in the west.

“Homes, jobs, and transport must be planned together – at the same time,” Minister Scully said.

He outlined a target of approximately 105,000 to 124,000 additional jobs across Blacktown, The Hills and Hawkesbury by 2046, emphasising that these were ambitious targets rather than forecasts.

The Minister also highlighted the Riverstone Town Centre rezoning, which he said could unlock up to 2,850 homes, approximately 1,200 jobs and more than 10 hectares of new or improved open space.

His address pointed to investment in Garfield Road East, Richmond Road and the new Rouse Hill Hospital as part of the infrastructure supporting the region’s future

The Chamber is incredibly grateful for the investment in our community’s future and for the opportunity to hear directly from the Minister about how local businesses fit into the broader plan.

For our members, connecting housing with employment, transport and services is essential to building a region where businesses can find staff, residents can work closer to home and families have more time to participate in community life.

The Chamber thanked Warren Kirby MP for helping bring the Minister into this local conversation and for his continued advocacy for Riverstone and the wider North West. Minister Scully’s address acknowledged Mr Kirby’s persistent advocacy in securing the Riverstone Town Centre Masterplan.

The Chamber also thanked Soren Yde Jensen for his presentation, and the Riverstone Business Park team for hosting the forum and its continued support of the local business community.

Blueprint provided an opportunity for business owners to ask questions, make connections and contribute to the conversation about the region’s next chapter.

The Chamber looks forward to continuing that conversation with government, industry and the community as plans become places where people can build their futures.