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| Mulgoa state Liberal MP Tanya Davies, Penrith state Liberal MP Stuart Ayres, Celestino CEO John Vassallo, Federal Minister for Urban Infrastructure and Cities Paul Fletcher and Penrith Mayor John Thain turn the sod for the Sydney Science Park at Luddenham. |
The first work on the ambitious Sydney Science Park in Luddenham has finally begun and it’s first buildings could be operational as early as 2021.
Federal, state and local government representatives braved the freezing temperatures on Monday to see the first sod turned on a visionary project that has seen private investors and government agencies work together.
The $5 billion private investment project has been eight years in the planning and will see a new state of the art “city” rise from the rural 280 hectare site on Luddenham Rd.
The site will include research laboratories, as well as STEM schools and residential developments so western Sydney residents can live close to their work.
Smart technology is also included in the design to ensure the city is sustainable including smart micro-grid, vacuum waste, geothermal power waste to energy, solar and battery technologies.
Sydney Science Park will also pioneer ultra-high speed data capacity making it a gigabit city with internet speeds suitable for high capacity users such as gaming developers, analytics and
universities.
The CSIRO has signed on to have an Urban Living Lab built and the Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta will also building the state’s first STEM high school.
Potential for a railway station as part of the North-South rail link is also in the works.
Celestino chief executive John Vassallo said in planning the city — hailed the first of its kind in Australia — designers looked at cities and research hubs around the world for inspiration and guidance.
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| This is the first major development off the back of the planned Western Sydney Airport. |
“This is the first major development to spring to life off the back of the western Sydney airport and our plan has always been to leverage the global opportunities that come with having Badgerys Creek at our doorstep,” Mr Vassallo said.
“We’re creating an ecosystem that will house some of the nation’s leading scientific institutions and providing educational opportunities for western Sydney, such as our STEM school, that haven’t been seen before.
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| Sydney Science Park will combine research and residential living a way never before since in Australia. |
“Science, research and technology will be at the core of our site, but we’re not putting any limits on what we can achieve here. Our goal is to cement Sydney Science Park, and western Sydney, as the nation’s leader when it comes to education, innovation and sustainable communities. Our project is a real example of the types of opportunities that are going to open up within the western Sydney aerotropolis and we’re proud to be the first to turn our vision, into a reality.”
“We really pushed because we believed it was going to be great for western Sydney and I have no doubt that it’s going to create thousands of really great jobs and be a really great place to live.” Mr Thain said.
“It will give kids from all over western Sydney the opportunity to go to a great STEM school the way they’ve thought about it.”
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| The iconic science lab to be built at Sydney Science Park. |
The first stage of development at Sydney Science Park includes a mix of commercial, residential, education and open space. The remainder of the first stage includes over 170 homes, a one-acre central park and the STEM-inspired school. Celestino expects the first of its commercial buildings along with the STEM school will be operational by 2021.
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