At a Glance

• Advancing key planning policies to guide orderly and sustainable CBD growth

• Confirmed continuation of 171 million dollars in WestInvest funding

• Strengthening governance and delivery capability for a 554 million dollar capital program

• Creating a clearer framework for sponsorship, events and city attraction

Choosing Progress with Purpose

In recent Mayoral Minutes, I have spoken at length about City Revitalisation and Urban Renewal. For me, this conversation is not theoretical. It goes to the heart of how we exercise stewardship over place.

Campbelltown is no longer a small regional centre finding its feet. We are a growing city within a dynamic metropolitan corridor. With that growth comes responsibility. We must shape our central business districts with intention, clarity and courage.

There is a natural human instinct to preserve what feels familiar. I understand that instinct. Our past gives us identity and continuity. Yet leadership requires us to distinguish between preserving heritage and preserving inertia.

“We cannot put our city’s growth on hold for memories sake.”

That statement reflects a simple truth. If we allow sentiment alone to determine our decisions, we risk constraining opportunity for the next generation. Revitalisation is not about erasing history. It is about ensuring that history sits within a living, functioning and evolving city.

From Planning to Action

Over recent months, I have provided updates on the progress of the Local Environment Plan for the Campbelltown City Centre. I look forward to seeing this significant policy continue its journey. In the months ahead, Council will also consider the outcomes of the public exhibition of the Ingleburn CBD Planning Proposal and draft amendments to the Local Infrastructure Contributions Plan.

Each of these instruments is essential. They provide the policy framework that ensures our city grows in an orderly and sustainable way. Without them, development is reactive and fragmented. With them, growth can be aligned to infrastructure, services and community need.

At the same time, I have always believed that we cannot remain in a constant state of planning. There will always be arguments that market conditions have shifted or that assumptions require refinement. Sometimes those arguments are valid. Yet if we continually reset and begin again, we never reach delivery. Judgement is required to know when consultation has been sufficient and when it is time to act.

Council as a Responsible Market Participant

The next phase of this conversation concerns Council’s own role in revitalisation. If we expect the private and public sectors to invest in Campbelltown, we must demonstrate that we believe in our own city.

That belief, however, must be expressed responsibly. We must invest in a fair and equitable way. We must avoid creating an unfair market advantage or crowding out private initiative. Our task is to lead, not dominate.

To achieve this balance, our team has been developing a policy that clearly defines our operational mandate in the renewal space. This includes potential projects that may sit outside Council’s traditional service functions, such as planning and developing strategic sites to create vibrant places and generate future revenue streams.

This is not a departure from our history. Previous Councils had the foresight to assemble a portfolio of assets not only to deliver services but also to anticipate the needs of a growing population. That foresight has given us options.

Now we carry an obligation to review our land and building assets regularly. We must assess whether each asset continues to meet community, operational and strategic needs. Where assets no longer serve those purposes, a dynamic approach may require divestment to enable reinvestment in projects that deliver greater social and economic benefit.

What we are creating is a transparent and consistent framework. It will articulate clearly how Council intends to leverage its assets to implement transformational projects while maintaining accountability and community trust.

WestInvest and Financial Prudence

Our confidence in the future has been strengthened by confirmation that funding under the Council and community rounds of WestInvest will continue. Campbelltown secured approximately 171 million dollars for projects of significant community value, including the expansion of the Campbelltown Arts Centre, park and facility enhancements, improved connectivity and new recreation facilities.

I am grateful for the commitment provided by the Premier and for the advocacy of our local member. Such continuity of funding provides stability at a time when many programs are under review.

Yet prudent governance demands more than celebration. Before signing deeds of agreement and formally committing Council, we are undertaking a further round of due diligence and quantity surveying. Cost escalation in the current economic climate cannot be ignored. It is our responsibility to ensure that each project remains viable and aligned with community benefit.

Over the next decade, our capital program is projected to exceed 554 million dollars. That level of investment requires discipline, capability and robust governance.

Strengthening Delivery and Accountability

To meet this challenge, we established a dedicated Project Management Office and City Projects team. This has strengthened our governance model, introduced regular project health checks and embedded an audit function across delivery cycles. Importantly, this governance model is integrated with our broader planning and reporting framework to ensure consistency and transparency.

The City Projects team now manages all tier one projects, providing a central point of expertise and accountability. At the same time, we continue refining our methodology so that it is flexible enough to respond to different project types while remaining rigorous in compliance and oversight.

We are also exploring the establishment of an external specialist advisory group. Such a group would provide independent expertise across the project lifecycle, supporting the delivery of major projects, including those associated with revitalisation and urban renewal. This reflects our commitment to transparency and to accessing the best possible advice.

City Attraction and Community Vitality

Revitalisation is not limited to bricks and mortar. A city’s vibrancy is expressed through events, culture and shared experiences. Earlier this year, I highlighted the need to review our policy framework to ensure that community events are easy to undertake, competitive with other councils and equitable across our residents’ interests.

Following further direction, staff have combined this work with a broader review aimed at attracting quality entertainment and activities to our city at an affordable price. This will result in a comprehensive framework covering community applications, assessment processes, engagement requirements and statutory approvals.

We have previously established the Stadium Content Attraction Fund and the broader City Attraction and Hosting Fund. It is timely to review their deliverables and integrate them within a clearer event support framework. Recruitment of additional staff to strengthen engagement and manage compliance requirements has commenced, reflecting our intention to improve service levels and customer experience.

Empowering community members to establish activities that matter to them strengthens social cohesion and resilience. A revitalised city centre must also be a city centre alive with participation.

Continuity of Leadership

Finally, I wish to acknowledge Director City Governance Phu Nguyen, who concludes his service with us as he takes up the role of Chief Executive Officer of the City of Onkaparinga. Over five years, Phu has contributed significantly to our governance maturity and organisational capability. Institutions grow stronger through the dedication of capable individuals, and I thank him for his service to Campbelltown.

Reflection

Urban renewal is not achieved through a single policy, funding announcement or project milestone. It is the cumulative result of clear frameworks, disciplined investment, capable delivery and a willingness to look beyond immediate comfort toward long term prosperity. While we honour where we have come from, we must continue to look ahead. In doing so with balance and integrity, we strengthen Campbelltown not only for today, but for generations to come.

Read the original Mayoral Minute here: 11. Strengthening Our City, Now and Into The Future