For the NSW Planning Minister Brad Hazzard, the west is the key because "around half the population of Sydney is going to be in western Sydney over the next twenty years," he says.
The government, after consultation with stakeholders, is announcing its Draft Metro Strategy, which proposes employment hubs in suburbs like Mt Druitt, Leppington, Rouse Hill and Prairewood with the goal to create local jobs.
Brad Hazzard cites the Norwest Business Park in the Hills district as a perfect example of what he'd like to create in other parts of western Sydney.
"They did that in advance of the residential accommodation. So we got the jobs right, then the housing.
"This time what we're trying do is to make sure there are the jobs, the housing and the transport connections," he says.
The Minister denies the government, which is coming up to its second anniversary, has been slow to act on jobs growth in these areas.
"I would be thinking in the next 2 to 3 years we'll see results. When you announce a strategy like this, once it becomes the accepted norm then we can start going on with the rezoning and so on.
"But we have to actually get the community with us before we do the rezonings," he argues.
Listeners however are sceptical.
Andriana from Blacktown has been struggling to find work. "I've heard this before and I don't believe it... they don't want to put jobs out here for people with tertiary qualifications," she says.
Mark argues the government must put more of its own jobs in the west before others will follow.
"Until either state or federal governments decide to shift themselves to Parramatta or Blacktown... until the people who make the decisions actually move there, no-one else will."
And Ashley suggests more "captains of industry" should move from the eastern suburbs and the north shore to create more jobs.
Mr Hazzard says more announcements are coming on decentralisation but says business is already flourishing in the west.
"People should remember that roughly a third of our economy comes out of western Sydney, so it's a huge area with business already in it."
He says so-called 'captains of industry' have told the government they want more business opportunities, which he argues, this strategy is trying to provide.
The Draft Metro Strategy will be released in detail today, but the Minister stresses it is not a fait accompli and encourages the community to contribute by going to its website www.nsw.gov.au/haveyoursay which will take suggestions up until the end of May.
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