Business
18 December, 2025
Picton Employment Lands to bring 1000 more jobs close to home for locals
At least 1000 more local jobs are on the horizon as Wollondilly Shire Council has supported a draft Planning Proposal, with amendments for employment lands in Picton that would ultimately deliver much needed local employment for the Shire.
At least 1000 more local jobs are on the horizon as Wollondilly Shire Council has supported a draft Planning Proposal, with amendments for employment lands in Picton that would ultimately deliver much needed local employment for the Shire.
Wollondilly Shire Council say that local jobs are a priority for their Council, with data from the National Institute of Economic and Industry Research showing an estimated 3,500 additional jobs created in the last five years, a 25% increase, and an 8% increase in the ratio of jobs to residents.
In the year ending June 2024, there were 17, 774 jobs in the Wollondilly Shire, and since records began being measured in 2001, this is a significant increase.
Council agreed that the proponent-led proposal involving multiple properties in Argyle Street, Stilton Lane and Wonga Road demonstrated strategic merit, and should be supported, with conditions.
“Supporting local business to create local jobs is a key priority because it gives our residents opportunities and can reduce the daily grind for those keen to work close to home,” Mayor Matt Gould said.
“While there remains more work to do, we’ve made some good progress in recent years, and this is another step in the right direction.
“Council has decided to progress this Planning Proposal to support well-located jobs for our residents, with some further analysis and amendments required to address some outstanding issues.
“Any development in this location needs to have high regard for heritage, landscape, and environmental outcomes.
“We have included the protection of views and heritage homes through the process, as well as maximum building height controls. Of course, the proposal would be dependent on Sydney Water having a clear delivery plan for wastewater.
“We need to encourage employment opportunities locally, so if the outstanding matters are addressed this would be a great outcome for the Shire.”
The proposal seeks to amend the Wollondilly Local Environmental Plan (WLEP) 2011 and was subject to preliminary community consultation earlier this year.
Council received a combination of positive, negative, and mixed responses, with the impact of increasing traffic congestion raised as a major focus.
Preliminary consultation was also undertaken with relevant public agencies, with none of them opposing the draft proposal.
Council will now forward the Planning Proposal to the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure for a Gateway Determination with a request for the following conditions:
a. The need for a Contributions Plan, site specific Development Control Plan and any Planning Agreement letter of offer to concurrently accompany the public exhibition of the planning proposal;
b. To incorporate an update to the Traffic Impact Assessment with Transport for NSW’s most current modelling data (G3M) for the Picton Bypass and wider precinct to ensure assumptions remain applicable; and
c. The need to undertake further consultation with local knowledge holders, in the absence of a comprehensive Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment being completed for all properties.
To find out more on Wollondilly Shire’s economic data visit https://economy.id.com.au/wollondilly/local-jobs.
Read More: Wollondilly, Picton