Sod turned at Sydney Science Park

The Federal and State Government’s goal of creating 200,000 knowledge jobs within the Western Sydney Aerotropolis is off to a strong start, with work set to commence at Sydney Science Park.

A sod‐turning ceremony was attended by Federal Minister for Urban Infrastructure and Cities Paul Fletcher MP, NSW Minister for Western Sydney Stuart Ayres, and Member for Mulgoa Tanya Davies and signalled the start of development at the 280‐hectare Luddenham site, which is expected to deliver more than 12,000 smart jobs, educate 10,000 students and provide more than 3,000 homes.

In 2017, the Westmead precinct partners formed a strategic partnership with the Sydney Science Park, committing to providing space – and vice versa – for researchers, students and staff to innovate and design health solutions.

At last year’s announcement, Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD) chief executive Danny O’Connor, representing the precinct said the arrangement would connect Sydney Science Park’s planned venture capital network with Westmead’s health, research and education offerings.

“The Westmead precinct has already produced a high number of successful research and clinical innovation projects and this partnership will further enhance healthcare outcomes for western Sydney and NSW, as well as establish Western Sydney as a leader in innovation and centre of knowledge jobs in NSW.”

The $5 billion Sydney Science Park is owned, and being delivered by western Sydney‐based property group Celestino, with CEO John Vassallo, confirming the sod turning was the culmination of years of collaboration with government, industry and the community, and was the first step towards the realisation of Australia’s first ‘smart city’.

As part of the launch, Celestino also announced a new partnership with Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANTSO) to develop a Collaborative Work Hub that connects activities from ANSTO’s main campus in Lucas Heights and other facilities, to Sydney Science Park.

For more information on the Westmead partnership, click here: http://www.westmeadproject.health.nsw.gov.au/news-and-publications/latest-news/july-2017/sydney-science-park-partnership-announcement