The report, entitled “Smart Work Centres: An Analysis of Demand in Western Sydney,” prepared by the Institute For Sustainable Futures at UTS, found that over 2,000 residents in Blacktown, 1,400 in Liverpool and over 1,000 in Penrith who currently travel to the city or elsewhere to carry out technology-enabled jobs would be candidates to work from locations much closer to home.
In launching the report, Alan Pendleton, Chair of RDA Sydney, said that new technology, including the NBN, had created the potential to establish Smart Work Centres located around Western Sydney which would allow employees to work one or two days a week from centres located near transport hubs much closer to their homes.
“Many people do not want to or cannot work from home and Smart Work Centres can provide a connected environment so they can carry out their usual work without the extended travel time,” Mr Pendleton said.
The study, which was jointly commissioned by Regional Development Australia Sydney, the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils and Penrith Business Alliance, also revealed significant public and private savings.
WSROC President, Clr Tony Hadchiti said that with an estimated 200,000 Western Sydney residents commuting long distances to work in other parts of Sydney, Smart Work Centres are a great option. “This is a win-win situation. People can work closer to home and families, and the community can benefit through reduced congestion and environmental costs.”
According to Bijai Kumar, CEO of Penrith Business Alliance, “Localised smart work centres can also help revitalise our own town centres which suffer from the mass exodus of workers to the CBD every day.”
Regional Development Australia (RDA) is a partnership between the Australian, State, Territory and Local Governments to support the growth and development of Australia’s regions.
The role of RDA committees is to build partnerships between governments, regional development organisations, local businesses, community groups and key regional stakeholders to provide strategic and targeted responses to economic, environmental and social issues affecting the regions of Australia.
For more information visit: www.rdasydney.org.au
