More than 3000 state public servants will be relocated to Western Sydney to ease traffic congestion and boost the fast-growing region’s economy.

Premier O’Farrell will move 3000 state public servants. They will be relocated to western Sydney from next year Source: News Corp Australia

More than 3000 state public servants to be relocated to western Sydney to ease traffic congestion and boost the fast-growing region’s economy.

Premier Barry O’Farrell will today outline his bold plan, which will also result in three new office buildings in Parramatta, Penrith and Liverpool.

“Decentralisation makes economic sense and it has the added benefit of ensuring public servants are based in the communities they serve, improving the delivery of their services,’’ Mr O’Farrell said.

The move comes after The Daily Telegraph’s Fair Go for the West campaign revealed more than 200,000 people are forced to travel away from western Sydney homes every day due to the lack of local jobs.

The agencies identified to move from next year include:

• Ambulance Service of NSW, moving from Rozelle to North Parramatta;

• Department of Sport and Recreation, moving from Sydney Olympic Park to Penrith;

• Community Relations Commission and divisions within Family and Community Services, moving from Sydney’s CBD and Ashfield to Liverpool; and

• Office of Environment and Heritage, EPA and Office of State Revenue, moving from Hurstville, the CBD and existing Parramatta offices to be co-located in Parramatta.

Long-time Penrith resident and former footballer Mark Geyer said the decision was “unbelievable news”.

Long-term penrith resident Mark Geyer wants transport bureaucrats relocated west. Source: News Corp Australia

He said Mr O’Farrell should also consider moving transport department bureaucrats “so they can walk a mile in our shoes, getting out of bed two hours early to sit in traffic”.

Mr O’Farrell’s move is the first major initiative under the Coalition’s “decade of decentralisation” policy.

“The relocation of these agencies will also provide more opportunities for western Sydney residents who want to work closer to where they live and help to reduce congestion in the Sydney CBD,’’ he said.

It will take several years for the relocations to be completed as the government will wait for leases on existing properties to expire and for new offices to be developed.

Mr O’Farrell said the government would seek expressions of interest for 5000sq m of new commercial space at Penrith, Parramatta and Liverpool. NSW Business Chamber chief executive Stephen Cartwright said the new locally based jobs would generate additional activity for western Sydney’s small businesses.

Set for a jobs boost ... Parramatta Mall. Source: News Limited

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