Western Sydney councils have saved ratepayers tens of millions of dollars, have massively reduced carbon emissions, and put downward pressure on the cost-of-living – all by combining efforts on a swag of energy, environmental and waste reduction projects, and pushing back on toll-road increases.

The 2023-2034 Annual Report by the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC) – the peak body representing councils in Greater Western Sydney – reveals that by working closely together, the councils have:

• Saved $55 million across the region through a suite of energy projects.
• Successfully challenged streetlighting costs through the Australian Energy Regulator, saving local government across the Endeavour Energy area $34 million over the next five years.
• Attracted $450,000 in grant funding to action a Western Sydney Regional Litter Prevention Plan partnered by seven participating councils.
• Secured $851,945 in grant funding to deliver waste reduction and circular economy projects.
• Secured $1.3 million for the Greater Sydney Heat Taskforce program in partnership with Resilient Sydney thanks to funding from NSW and Australian Governments.
• Secured $1.5 million for a Caring for Country grants program for its member councils
• Secured $1 million to conduct a 15-month Compliance Strategy pilot under the Cumberland Plains Conservation Plan.

As the report demonstrates, Western Sydney councils also achieved major successes in improving quality of life and putting downward pressure on cost-of-living factors impacting Western Sydney residents.

“For example, Western Sydney councils’ combined advocacy contributed directly to the NSW Government motorway toll relief scheme; and the councils had direct input to the independent review of motorway toll pricing across Sydney,” said WSROC President, Councillor Barry Calvert.

“This was especially valuable to Western Sydney communities, because our residents travel further to access jobs, services, and recreation, with tolls representing the second largest cost for most households in Western Sydney.

“WSROC also delivered a joint technical review of the Western Sydney Airport Environmental Impact Statement on behalf of Western Sydney communities, with the new airport set to open to international, domestic and freight flights in 2026 and the adjacent Western Sydney Aerotropolis set to drive decades of transformational development in the region.

“The review identified fundamental deficiencies in how the EIS calculated noise impacts, which poses real concern for Western Sydney residents.

"Western Sydney International Airport project will be one of the largest and most complex infrastructure projects undertaken in Australia.

"WSROC and Western Sydney councils continue to advocate for equity and fairness about who is impacted when scheduling aircraft movements, flight departure times and the direction of aircraft take-offs and landings.

“Also, eight Western Sydney councils combined efforts through WSROC’s Western Sydney Regional Waste and Sustainable Materials Strategy to support the improved delivery of household waste services and enhanced ‘liveability’ for our communities.

“Also addressing ‘liveability’, WSROC’s facilitation of a multi-sector Greater Sydney Heat Taskforce has brought together leaders from the three levels of government, industry and the community sector to develop a joint plan for cross-sectoral heat resilience in our city.

“This will be greatly important for Western Sydney communities already bearing the brunt of extreme heat being made worse by global warming,” said Councillor Calvert.

“We can reflect on significant steps toward outcomes that will benefit councils and their communities - including our internationally recognised Turn Down the Heat Strategy, ongoing leadership through our Regional Waste program collaborations, and the Western Sydney Energy Program’s cross-sector approach to addressing the region’s energy challenges.”

To download a copy of the WSROC 2023-2034 Annual Report, follow the link.