The case for Western Sydney

“In investing, what is comfortable is rarely profitable.” – Robert D. Arnott, American businessman, investor and writer

Houses and warehouses it has aplenty.

What Western Sydney needs now is privately led landmark developments to stimulate further tourism, infrastructure and hospitality projects across the region.

Winter Sports World is that landmark and begins a new era for Western Sydney.

The NSW and Australian governments have poured nearly $18 billion into roads and rail infrastructure, including the $10.4 billion Sydney Metro, $2 billion M12 motorway, $1 billion Mamre Road Stage 2 upgrade and $800 million Elizabeth Drive priority sections upgrade.

Then there’s the new $5.3 billion Western Sydney International Airport .

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said this investment was to make the region “a gateway to the rest of the world” and “the engine room for jobs, economic growth and opportunity”.

Western Sydney is already the fastest growing region of NSW.

Now it’s set to get a game-changing boost from Australia’s first indoor snow resort.

Our $700 million Winter Sports World will be built at Penrith, just 15km from the new runway.

Early onsite works will begin in 2025, ahead of its opening in 2028.

As well as a spectacular exterior “ice blizzard” design, Winter Sports World will feature a 300m Olympic standard advanced ski run, a beginner slope, 3200m2 snow-play areas for families, 200-room hotel with snow-view rooms, a range of dining and bar venues, a day spa and First Nations art and education elements.

It will attract at least 1.3 million visitors a year, create more than 2,270 jobs and inject $222 million per year into the local economy ($2.5 billion over a decade).

Winter Sports World is the largest private tourism development in Australia right now, and the biggest ever for Western Sydney. It will also be the largest indoor attraction in Australia.

It will offer real chemical-free perfect snow, perfect snow conditions and perfect weather up to 18 hours a day 365 days a year.

These bold figures and statements make one thing clear: Winter Sports World is not just another amusement park.

Penrith City Council has declared the region “the adventure capital of NSW”.

Winter Sports World will cement that claim and help Western Sydney shed its afterthought status and become a destination rather than a stopover.

Western Sydney’s tourism momentum

Even before Winter Sports World, Western Sydney’s visitor economy is booming.

According to data from Tourism Research Australia , the region welcomed about 2.2 million domestic overnight visitors in 2024 who spent $1.4 billion (up 3.4 per cent year-on-year) and 539,500 international visitors to Western Sydney (up 5.2 per cent) who spent $1.7 billion (up 15 per cent year-on-year).

That’s nearly one in five domestic overnight visitors and one in seven internationals to Sydney last year.

Yet Western Sydney only accounts for $5 billion of the state’s $50 billion tourism economy, underlining significant untapped potential.

With the new airport expected to bring in 10 million passengers a year, what will keep them in Western Sydney rather than head straight to Sydney’s CBD?

·         Western Sydney Convention Centre: The $110 million, 1,000-seat convention venue opened in 2023 at the Penrith Panthers precinct in Penrith. The entire Panthers complex now offers more than 4,000m² of event space, enough for 2,800 seated or 10,000 in exhibition mode to serve the international MICE market and local events.

• Pullman Sydney Penrith & hotels: Now managed by Trilogy Hotels , Penrith’s first 5-star hotel opened in late 2023 alongside the WSCC.

Major hotel chains are also moving in with Marriott International to build a flagship hotel in Parramatta by 2027, and PARKROYAL Parramatta recently underwent a major upgrade.

• Cultural attractions: Powerhouse Parramatta will become NSW’ largest museum (18,000m²) when it opens to an expected 2 million visitors annually.

Adventure attractions abound too: Cables Wake Park, iFLY Australia Indoor Skydiving and Aqua Golf at Panthers, plus Scenic World in the nearby Blue Mountains (more than 1 million annual visitors), all reinforce the region’s leisure appeal.

• Major events: Western Sydney now hosts top-tier sports and events – CommBank Stadium (30,000 seats) has hosted NRL grand finals, and international conferences will flock to the WSCC/Panthers as well as the new Western Sydney Convention Centre .

However, Western Sydney, with its population of 3 million and booming economy, needs far more high-quality rooms and at least three more landmark attractions to create a true international destination.

Infrastructure and connectivity

No development stands alone.

Governments have backed Western Sydney’s growth with unprecedented infrastructure investment.

WSI, Australia’s first greenfield airport in 70 years, is complete and on track to open in late 2026, serving 10 million passengers a year from day one and eventually handling up to 80 million (bigger than Heathrow).

Prime Minister Albanese said the airport is “much more than just aviation infrastructure”: “It is “a catalyst for prosperity, an engine for job creation and a beacon of Australia’s ambitious future.”

As well as already mentioned projects, last month the NSW Government announced $835 million more for the new Western Sydney Aerotropolis airport precinct to unlock jobs and development.

In the next few years the region will also see completion of the Western Parkland City major transport projects and power and water works (e.g. WSI stormwater). All signals are “go” for Western Sydney.

Then there’s the $2 billion Blacktown Quarter regeneration and the new Bradfield City masterplan.

Just 15km from the new airport, our enormous snow box will become a new gateway landmark for Penrith.

Visitors will be able to fly in from around the globe and arrive at the resort – our luxury hotel rooms, dining venues and activities – within minutes.

As a new asset class for Australia, Winter Sports World’s success will reverberate beyond Penrith: it will validate the region’s potential and help put it into the international spotlight, spur more private investment from around the world and ensure visitors not only stop in region but stay.

For investors, this means Western Sydney is wired for growth.