When I stepped back from Council, I did so with clarity and optimism — not just about where our cities were headed, but about the role planning could play in shaping our future. For over two decades, I’ve worked at the intersection of planning, politics, and community, as a mayor, consultant, and researcher. I’ve seen the power of good planning to create liveable, inclusive, future-ready places. I’ve also seen how easily it can be derailed by short-term thinking — and how costly that can be for clients, communities, and councils alike. Greiss Planning exists to bring clarity, rigour, and steady leadership to the approvals process, so good projects can move forward with confidence.
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Western Sydney is often spoken about as if it has a single voice and a shared vision. But anyone who lives here knows that isn’t true. Western Sydney is a region of many communities — many local government areas — each with its own strengths, pressures, history, and priorities. And while the rise in regional advocacy is encouraging, meaningful progress will only come when every community is heard and empowered to shape its own future.
Even the boundaries of “Western Sydney” shift depending on who is defining it. In last year’s NSW Budget, it was described as 13 local government areas and 2.73 million residents — around a third of the state’s population. That scale alone should be enough to make us cautious about one-size-fits-all strategies. A region larger than several capital cities combined cannot be treated as a single planning problem with a single solution.
And yet we keep doing it.
We talk about “Western Sydney” as though it’s one place, with one need — rather than a region defined by complexity, diversity, and, yes, competing priorities. When we assume that any one leader, agency, or organisation can speak for the whole region, we don’t just simplify the story — we risk deepening the inequalities already sitting beneath the surface. Because what happens in practice is predictable: the largest, loudest, most headline-friendly priorities rise to the top, while local issues that matter deeply to particular communities get pushed to the margins.
That doesn’t mean regional collaboration is wrong — it’s essential. A rising tide can lift all boats. I’ve worked with many of the individuals and organisations active in this space, and I’ve seen the value of united advocacy when it’s aligned and targeted. Campbelltown, like many councils, should be part of those networks and help shape them. But we also need to be honest: in a region this large, not every “boat” gets the same lift — and not every community gets the same attention.
Some argue advocacy groups have “filled a vacuum” because elected representatives haven’t spoken up for Western Sydney. I don’t accept that framing. In my view, the rise of advocacy reflects alignment of interests and shared agendas — not a failure of democracy. Western Sydney’s communities have repeatedly and clearly expressed confidence in their representatives through elections. The challenge isn’t whether people care or whether leaders exist. The challenge is how we create a system that can hold regional advocacy and local truth at the same time.
Because the future won’t be built through a single voice or a singular vision. It will be built by listening to each other, respecting difference, and allowing every part of this diverse region to steer its own course. It’s time to revisit our priorities — not just the major, headline-grabbing projects, but the everyday issues that shape daily life and long-term opportunity.
A stronger Western Sydney isn’t one that speaks louder. It’s one that listens better — and makes room for every community to shape its own future.
Read more → Time to bust the myth about Western Sydney