Overview
When Sydneysiders want to spend a day carving up the snow, they usually have to jump in a car for at least five hours and head to one of NSW's ski resorts. But, in a few years, it might be as easy as jumping on a train to Penrith, thanks to a new $200-million indoor Winter Sports World that's been proposed for the city.
Set to be built in Jamisontown on the corner of Jamison Road and Tench Avenue, the centre will include a 300-metre indoor ski slope, ice skating rink, and both ice and rock climbing facilities. If executed to plan, the proposal claims the ski slope will be one of the top ten high-performance training centres in the world.
A food and drink precinct featuring bars, restaurants and cafes, and a 170-room hotel have also been included in the proposal.
The development, which is currently open for public feedback, is part of the Penrith City Council's plan to double visitors and tourism revenue in the area by 2025. If it goes ahead, the development is expected to contribute $74.9 million to the NSW economy each year.
Once built, the facility is hoped to provide a boost to Australia's Winter Olympians and their training. The Winter Olympics haven't traditionally been one of Australia's sporting strong suits — the national team first competed in 1936 and didn't win its first medal until 1994.
The proposal has been in the works since November 2018 and is currently up for Public Exhibition on the Penrith City Council website. According to the scheduled timeline, if the development is approved the planning phase will be complete by July 2021, making way for the start of construction.
If construction does kick off, it certainly won't be the only building happening in Western Sydney. Parramatta Square dining precinct is almost complete, and Badgerys Creek will soon be home to Sydney's next major airport.
You can review the winter sports facility proposal and give feedback on the Penrith City Council website up until 4pm on Friday, November 6.