Inner West Council will receive $2 million from the Minns Labor Government to deliver upgrades to Wicks Park, as part of a $54 million statewide investment in 30 high-performing councils under the Faster Assessments Incentive Program.
Located within the rezoned Victoria Road Precinct, Marrickville, the project will transform Wicks Park into a vibrant community hub, featuring a central gathering space with shelters, barbecues and seating to support the growing neighbourhood and more than 2,000 new homes being delivered in the precinct.
The upgrade will also deliver an expanded all-abilities playground, new fitness equipment, picnic areas, and resurfaced tennis courts with improved floodlighting designed to reduce light spill into neighbouring residential areas.
New pathways, landscaped recreation areas and climate-resilient planting will enhance connectivity, usability and flood resilience, creating high-quality open space that meets the needs of both existing residents and the rapidly growing community.
Inner West Council was one of 35 successful councils to meet or beat the 115-day assessment benchmark set out in the Minister's Statement of Expectations in FY 2024–25. The councils turned around assessments in an average of 89 days in metropolitan areas and 82 days in regional NSW.
Round 1 of the FAIP will deliver grants of between $1 million and $3 million to councils that are delivering faster development assessment timeframes while supporting new homes in their communities. Under Round 1, 30 of 35 nominated projects will receive $54 million statewide investment funding.
Combined with council co-contributions, the funding will deliver more than $106 million in local infrastructure projects to help ensure growing neighbourhoods have the facilities they need as more homes are built.
Eligible councils are now being assessed for Round 2 of the program, with $67 million available for councils that met or exceeded the 105-day benchmark and improved assessment times in FY 2025–26.
For more information about the Faster Assessments Incentive Program, visit NSW Planning
Member for Summer Hill, Jo Haylen said:
"The Inner West is continuing to grow, and as more people choose to live close to jobs, public transport and services, access to high-quality public open space becomes increasingly important.
“Parks like Wicks Park provide much more than recreation opportunities, they are places where communities connect, children play and neighbours come together.
"This upgrade will deliver the community infrastructure needed to support new housing in the Victoria Road precinct while improving amenity for existing residents.
“By investing in parks, recreation facilities and public spaces alongside housing growth, we're helping create neighbourhoods that are healthy, connected and genuinely liveable for the long term."
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Paul Scully said:
“We are rewarding councils that are cutting assessment times and helping deliver the homes NSW needs, because faster decisions mean people can move into new homes sooner.
“This funding will help Inner West Council build the community enabling infrastructure that communities need, delivered alongside new housing, not years after it.”