Penrith Budget 2022/23 has a focus on green spaces and places for recreation

Penrith Budget 2022-23 has a focus on green spaces and places for recreation

The 2022-23 Penrith Budget will enable Council to deliver multi-million-dollar projects and have a focus on green spaces and places for recreation.

Council has budgeted $4.12 million for the Harold Corr Athletics Track upgrade – which will see the grass athletics track become the City’s first athletics precinct featuring a synthetic surface.

$12.9 million is also planned for the 32-hectare Gipps Street Recreation Precinct.

Projects will include the much-anticipated Regatta Park upgrade, due for completion at the end of 2022, and the City Park, slated for completion early next year.

Council plans to reinvest $3.27 million in its aquatic and leisure services (Ripples) and a further $644,000 in its library services.

Following community feedback, Council will put $125,000 towards enhancing the experience for patrons at The Joan through improved lighting and seating upgrades.

Council also remains committed to sustainability and has allocated close to $40,000 for tree planting programs under the Cooling the City Strategy rollout, with a further $1.19 million boost for Council’s Nursery and Bushcare initiatives.

Community-focused projects are accounted for in the Budget, such as the annual Penrith Mayoral Challenge ($363,825) which sees young people co-design a park in their neighbourhood, and the continuation of Village Café ($72,553), an opportunity for members of the community to reconnect and access services.

The Penrith Local Government Area is undergoing a period of major transformation and Penrith City Council’s latest budget highlights the importance of creating a liveable, connected, active, accessible, and sustainable City for the future. 

Council presented a balanced budget of just over $384 million at the June Ordinary Meeting with $153 million set aside for Capital Works. The 2022-23 Penrith City Council Operational Plan was endorsed as part of a suite of documents which included the Delivery Program 2022-26.

Penrith Mayor Tricia Hitchen thanked residents for taking part in the community consultation process which assists in preparing a well-rounded budget as Council aligned its vision with the overarching needs of the City.

Mayor Hitchen notes “Council is pleased to share our latest Budget which is far-reaching, yet practical in terms of scope; we have factored in everything from critical road upgrades and creating local job opportunities to sprucing up playgrounds and enhancing entertainment facilities.

“We are thrilled to be able to contribute significant funding for transformative projects that are under construction or nearing completion. These will bring our vision for the City to life as more people call the Penrith Local Government Area (LGA) home and we move towards a more liveable, sustainable and connected future.”

To read the 2022-23 Penrith City Council Operational Plan, visit penrith.city/strategic-planning

Image of Harold Corr Oval courtesy tracks inside athletics