There’s no better time for businesses to start envisaging the opportunities this major infrastructure improvement will create and planning ahead for the new environment.

With that in mind, our upcoming Novotel Sydney Norwest – Chamber Chairman’s Lunch on April 22 provides an opportunity for local business people to hear from those in the know about the short, medium and long term impact the new infrastructure.   

North West Rail Link Deputy Project Director Tom Gellibrand will attend as guest speaker and share his considerable insight into the type of changes we can expect before and after the opening of the new line.

Also joining us will be representatives from Thiess John Holland Dragados (Tunnelling), Salini Impregilo (Skytrain Viaduct and Civils), and Northwest Rapid Transit (Operations, Trains and Stations), and there’ll be an opportunity for attendees to ask questions about the project, opportunities, and likely changes.

If you’d like to come along, enjoy a great lunch and network with the Hills Business Community , visit the Chamber website www.sydneyhillsbusiness.com.au, register to obtain login details (you don’t need to be a member) and proceed to the events booking page. It’s just $77 for members and guests and $99 for non-members.

 Meanwhile, here are just some of the shifts expected to occur:

•    There is already a hive of development activity in the areas surrounding the new station locations, as zonings are changed or modified to accommodate increased density accommodation, and blocks are snapped up in the vicinity. By the time the trains begin rolling, we’ll already have many new buildings. The region’s population will already have increased and will likely continue to do so.
•    Higher density living creates a need for businesses to service those residents. That can mean increased trade for existing businesses, and opportunities for new businesses.
•    The improved public transport and increasing population will likely encourage more businesses (including many large ones) to look at Norwest Business Park as an option. Being positioned a short walk from a station has benefits for employees and customers and flow on benefits for a company.
•    More businesses brings more local employment, and more potential clients for the many smaller businesses in the area that have products or services that support other businesses or their employees – from lunch bars and restaurants to printers and recruitment agencies.
•    With many employees being able to travel to work by train, the traffic congestion many of us have unwillingly become accustomed to may be relegated to a bad memory – we hope!
•    Our region already punches above its weight when it comes to economic contribution, but our contribution is likely to increase further.
•    And of course, an area with excellent transport, plenty of employment opportunities, large thriving shopping centres and an abundance of cafes and entertainment venues is a very desirable place to live, which in turn bodes very well for residential and commercial property owners in the region.

The first step to ensuring you’re positioned to take advantage of the changes occurring in our booming region is to engage with those responsible for the project development.  

So join me at our Novotel Sydney Norwest – Chamber Chairman’s Lunch on April 22 to get a better glimpse of the future of business in the Sydney Hills region. Bookings close on 19 April. Book as an individual, or book a table of 10 and bring your whole team along.