The first Industry Newsletter for 2025 covers the opening of Bradfield City Centre’s First Building, Green light for Bradfield's iconic Central Park, and Prime Minister speaks on Bradfield City Centre.
We’re off to a momentous start to 2025 at Bradfield City Centre, with milestone after milestone rolling out.
The First Building is now officially open, housing its first tenants, the Advanced Manufacturing Readiness Facility (AMRF) and AMRF Connect, operated by Western Sydney University and CSIRO. The first advanced machines to boost the NSW manufacturing industry have moved in too.
Underpinning the city with this economic infrastructure is the first step in delivering the new city of Bradfield and building a stronger future for Western Sydney.
Having firmly shifted from planning to delivery, our civil works are on track to be completed in coming months, and with Central Park’s SSDA is now approved, a construction partner is being appointed to deliver the park opening alongside the Bradfield Metro Station.
The development and construction partners for both Superlot 1 and Second Building, as well as our digital partner delivering the vital digital infrastructure for our world-class city, will be announced in coming months.
A landmark partnership between the AMRF and 11 universities across New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, aimed at accelerating advanced manufacturing innovation in Western Sydney, is the first of many exciting, upcoming affiliations.
We will keep the updates coming as we continue to drive further investment into the region and build Bradfield as a vibrant, sustainable, innovative city.
Ken Morrison
CEO, Bradfield Development Authority
First Building grand opening
A major milestone moment for Bradfield City Centre as Premier of NSW Chris Minns, joined by Deputy Premier Prue Car and Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully, officially opened First Building on Wednesday, 5 March 2025.
Housing the Advanced Manufacturing Readiness Facility (AMRF) and AMRF Connect, the First Building is accelerating innovation across Western Sydney by establishing a new innovation ecosystem that will offer world-class support for businesses, creating more highly-skilled jobs for the region and strengthening the NSW economy.
The Premier also released the Aerotropolis Sector Plan, facilitating further growth in the precinct by stepping out how essential infrastructure will be delivered quickly and efficiently to service the development of thousands of hectares of employment land.
The opening ceremony was attended by key figures, including the Mayors of Liverpool City Council, Camden Council, Penrith City Council, and Wollondilly Shire Council, alongside industry leaders, construction partners, and community leaders.
Premier Minns emphasised, "A new city requires a big dream...it is incredibly exciting to see that dream taking shape in Bradfield."
This visionary project highlights the collaborative efforts of government, industry, and community stakeholders in turning Bradfield City Centre – Australia’s first new city in 100 years - into a beacon of opportunity and innovation for Western Sydney.
What a day!
Opening of First Building in Bradfield
History has been made, with the First Building of Bradfield City Centre - Australia's first new city in 100 years - officially opened by Premier of NSW Chris Minns...
Western Sydney set to take-off with Aerotropolis Sector Plan
Critical to facilitating further growth in the region, the NSW Government has recently released the Aerotropolis Sector Plan.
Developed by Infrastructure NSW, the plan identifies how essential enabling infrastructure including roads, stormwater, wastewater, and drinking water, will be sequenced, prioritised and accelerated to support development in the Western Sydney Aerotropolis and the opening and growth of the Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport.
Accelerating the delivery of transport and water-projects will unlock thousands of hectares employment land for development across the Aerotropolis by 2030. This will ease the cost of doing business, improve the state’s ability to be competitive, and boost Sydney’s supply of serviced employment land.
Green light for Bradfield's iconic new Central Park
The world-class design for the two hectare Central Park on the doorstep of the Bradfield Metro Station has been finalised, with the SSDA now approved.
Set to open in line with the Bradfield Metro Station, the stunning two-hectare park will welcome visitors arriving to the city through bus and the Western Sydney Airport line currently under construction.
A critical piece of social infrastructure in Australia’s first new city in 100 years, Central Park will provide green, open space for workers, residents, and visitors to gather, play, and relax. It is an important new resource for the growth of the Aerotropolis and joins other notable Western Sydney parks in providing social amenity for residents and businesses.
Central Park walk through
Bradfield City Centre’s Central Park State Significant Development Application (SSDA) is now approved.
Key features of Central Park include:
- Designed with Country at its core, Central Park showcases the rich cultural heritage of the Dharug people.
- An iconic Skyring installation celebrating Sky Country.
- Gathering Ground for community and cultural events, with a capacity of more than 5,000 people.
- Interwoven Heart featuring Dharug weaving and woven play to enhance exploration, play, education, shade and celebration of First Nations culture.
- Integrated public art encouraging curiosity and discovery of the landscape.
- More than 550 mature trees and over 70,000 species of native plants will create a green oasis.
- Minimum 65 per cent tree canopy cover of native species.
Prime Minister speaks on Bradfield City Centre
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recently highlighted the generational opportunity of the Western Sydney International Airport, the Aerotropolis and Bradfield City Centre to drive innovation, jobs, and economic growth.
The PM also noted that manufacturing was central to a stronger economic future, with the AMRF set to play a key role.
High profile visits to the First Building
The Authority welcomed Courtney Houssos, NSW Minister for Finance and Minister for Domestic Manufacturing to Bradfield City Centre for a tour of the First Building to learn more about the AMRF in January.
During the visit, the Minister gained insights into the AMRF’s role in driving innovation and growth in manufacturing.
A site visit to Marley Flow Control in Emu Plains, one of the AMRF’s first project partners, highlighted its tangible impact.
By enhancing advanced manufacturing capabilities, the AMRF is set to play a pivotal role in strengthening Western Sydney’s manufacturing sector, fostering high-value job creation, and driving significant economic growth in the region.
The Authority was also honoured to recently hosted a tour of First Building with Osamu Yamanaka, Consul-General of Japan in Sydney, Mayumi Ikegaya, Consul, Economic Section, Consulate-General of Japan, as well as Shiguma Fujita and Naoki James Kuroda from Urban Renaissance Agency.
CEO, Ken Morrison, and Executive Director, Ariel Ellis, guided the delegation through the First Building and AMRF manufacturing hall, showcasing its cutting-edge technology and industry-leading capabilities.
They also shared the determined vision and strategic development plans for Bradfield City, illustrating the broader momentum within the Western Sydney Aerotropolis.
Discussions focused on opportunities to further strengthen relationships between Japan and NSW businesses in manufacturing and related sectors.
Book a tour of the First Building
Interested in a tour of the First Building? Contact us to express your interest and stay tuned for our new webform.
Project updates
Delivery of Australia’s first new city in 100 years is progressing at pace. See below for a summary of the latest developments underway.
Second Building
The Second Building will house the next AMRF manufacturing hall, industry tenants, and Australia’s first commercial semiconductor advanced packaging facility.
The SSDA for the Second Building is in the final stages of assessment, with planning approval expected imminently.
Superlot 1
As the first land release in Bradfield City Centre for private development, Superlot 1 will deliver 1,000 new residences, as well as commercial, retail, hotel, childcare, and other services.
The market process for Superlot 1 is in the final stages of assessment, with a development partner to be appointed in coming months.
Digital infrastructure
Building a city set for innovation and future industries means delivering world-class digital infrastructure.
Following a competitive market process, a digital infrastructure partner for Bradfield City Centre will be announced shortly.
Central Park
Providing important early amenity for the new city, Central Park is a two hectare green open space located on the doorstep of the Bradfield Metro Station that will become a key hub of activity, gathering, and relaxation for people living, working, and visiting the new city.
The SSDA for Central Park is now approved.
Civil works
Civil works are delivering more than 4km of roads, 8km of cycling networks, and providing water, electrical, and other network infrastructure to the boundary to support the release of land for private development in the Western side of the city.
The works are progressing well and on track to complete mid-year. Check out the video on our LinkedIn for more information.
Defence manufacturing roundtable
The Authority recently hosted a pivotal Defence Manufacturing Capability Roundtable at the First Building.
Chaired by BDA Board Director Air Chief Marshal (Ret’d) Mark Binskin, AC, the roundtable provided a valuable platform to explore opportunities for Defence to collaborate with the AMRF and the Industry Skills Accelerator (ISA) in bolstering Australia's sovereign defence capabilities.
Key discussions focused on:
- Building Australia’s defence sovereign capability
- Enhancing coordination across the Defence sector
- Leveraging ISA and AMRF to provide upskilling, exposure, and training with advanced technology.
This collaborative approach highlights our commitment to ensuring a robust, skilled, and future-ready defence industry to build a stronger foundation for Australia’s defence sector.
Funding boosts to connect Southwest Sydney with the Aerotropolis
Recent funding announcements to connect Sydney’s southwest growth areas to the Aerotropolis have highlighted the generational opportunity of the Western Sydney International Airport, the Aerotropolis, and Bradfield City Centre to drive innovation, jobs, and economic growth.
In February, $1 billion was committed to upgrade Fifteenth Avenue. This will create an important transit corridor from Liverpool, meaning faster and easier travel for people to access thousands of high-quality jobs and opportunities at Bradfield.
Announced in March, an additional $1 billion federal funding was committed to purchase land corridors for rail connections from Bradfield, which will support plans to connect the booming southwest population with the jobs of the future in Australia's first new city in 100 years.
These funding boosts add to the $25 billion of existing major infrastructure investments in the Aerotropolis, connecting the rest of Western Sydney and NSW to the enormous economic opportunities Bradfield and the Aerotropolis offer.
Landmark AMRF and universities partnership driving the future of advanced manufacturing
Announced at the First Building opening, the AMRF has agreed a landmark partnership with 11 universities across NSW and the ACT to accelerate advanced manufacturing innovation.
The collaboration merges the universities' world-class research expertise with the AMRF’s cutting-edge industrial production capabilities and infrastructure. This powerful synergy is set to unlock groundbreaking opportunities for research commercialisation, facilitating stronger ties between academia and industry.
Universities and their industry partners will gain unparalleled access to the AMRF ecosystem, fostering collaboration via research industrialisation initiatives and specialised events.
A paid internship program in 2025 will also pave the way for university students to gain hands-on experience within the AMRF, shaping the next generation of advanced manufacturing leaders.
Universities partnering with the AMRF under the agreement include:
- Australian Catholic University (ACU)
- The Australian National University (ANU)
- Charles Sturt University (CSU)
- University of New South Wales (UNSW)
- Macquarie University (MQ)
- The University of Newcastle (UON)
- The University of New England (UNE)
- The University of Sydney (USYD)
- University of Technology Sydney (UTS)
- University of Wollongong (UOW)
- Western Sydney University (WSU)
Tenants move into First Building
A historic moment was made when the AMRF became the first tenant in Australia’s first new city in 100 years in February.
This milestone marks the beginning of a transformative era for Western Sydney, as the AMRF’s state-of-the-art machinery and technology set the stage for innovation, economic growth, and prosperity.
The installation required precise manoeuvring, culminating in the DMG MORI DMU80 and NT4250 being positioned in the manufacturing hall—ready to take on industry challenges and drive advanced manufacturing solutions for businesses.
These machines are just the first step in building a cutting-edge facility that will empower industries and foster collaboration across the region.
Watch the video of the machine moving into the building
Alongside the AMRF, AMRF Connect also moved into the building, solidifying its role as Western Sydney’s premier manufacturing scale-up hub.
Operated by Western Sydney University’s Launchpad and CSIRO, AMRF Connect is cultivating a dynamic community designed to accelerate innovation and competitiveness in the manufacturing sector by linking businesses with cutting-edge technology, training, and influential networks.
AMRF Connect has already delivered its first sold out masterclass on accessing Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) grants, with upcoming masterclasses on working with Primes and accessing broader funding opportunities. Contact the AMRF Connect team for more information on how to get involved in future offerings.
AMRF Connect offers:
- Experts-in-residence and co-working space
- AMRF capability and technology demonstrations
- Manufacturing community and networking events
- Access to investment opportunities, grants, and business support
- Tailored scale-up training and support programs
AMRF's first project signed, sealed, and delivered
Western Sydney engineering company Marley Flow Control is the first to benefit from the AMRF.
AMRF's time-study project identified operational efficiencies in Marley Flow Control’s manufacturing processes that could generate up to six times the current productivity of the business and an estimated 20% reduction in production costs.
Keen to build on this increased productivity, Marley Flow Control are now working with the AMRF to further enhance production efficiencies.
AMRF Marley Flow Control case study
Read transcriptThe AMRF is a key part of the NSW Government strategy to grow the advanced manufacturing sector in Western Sydney and beyond. The AMRF also anchors the new city of Bradfield at the heart of the Aerotropolis which will be a home for high quality jobs in advanced manufacturing and education training.
The pipeline of current AMRF projects span across high-priority industries such as aerospace, agriculture, defence, energy, medtech and more.
Interested in a project with the AMRF? Contact the team.
BDA out and about
Authority CEO Ken Morrison has been out and about talking to industry about the exciting opportunities in Bradfield and the Aerotropolis.
Western Sydney Tourism Taskforce
Tourism is set to become a $91 billion pillar of the NSW economy by 2035, and the opening of the Western Sydney International Airport in 2026 is expected to serve as a major catalyst for growth in the region’s visitor economy.
Ken recently joined a panel at Western Sydney Tourism Taskforce NSW's Hotel Forum, alongside global hotel groups, owners and hotel brokers to talk about how Western Sydney can best leverage this opportunity.
Ken spoke to the role the Aerotropolis and Bradfield, the first new Australian city in 100 years, will play, reflecting on the opportunity in business tourism and basing in the region to explore nearby attractions.
City Nation Place
Ken also spoke at the City Nation Place Australasia Conference 2025 about the exciting task of building Australia’s first new city in 100 years.
Speaking to a room full of place experts from around the region, Ken highlighted the ambitious economic, social, and cultural infrastructure projects already underway in Bradfield.
His presentation emphasised how these initiatives are shaping the city into a vibrant hub for living, working, visiting, and investing, and underscored Bradfield’s role as a transformative model for urban innovation and growth.
Property and Investment Forum
Liverpool City Council and UDIA NSW recently hosted a Property and Investment Forum to talk about the enormous opportunities in the region.
Ken joined Amanda Rose and Aras Labutis on a panel hosted by UDIA CEO Stuart Ayres to talk about market trends, investment priorities, and the regions competitive position in Sydney’s investment landscape.
Ken pointed to the billions in Government infrastructure investment in the Aerotropolis, noting how Bradfield and the billions in private development in the pipeline will leverage the opportunities of the Western Sydney International Airport.
Airport City Summit
Ken joined Liverpool City Council Mayor Ned Mannoun, Qantas Group's CFO Rob Marcolina, and Western Sydney International Airport General Manager of Strategy Gavin Harris to discuss the Big Picture - the projects set to build on the WSI legacy at the recent Airport Summit hosted by the Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue.
Ken spoke to the strong momentum underway, how businesses are already benefiting from the AMRF, and what to expect next.
Keynotes and other panels at the event touched on the infrastructure investment and enormous tourism/visitor economy and future workforce skills opportunities in the region, showcasing how the Aerotropolis and Western Sydney really are the land of opportunity.
The announcement of $8 million of State funding for the Western Sydney International Take-off Fund to get more airlines flying into WSI by NSW Minister for Transport, Tourism, and Night-time Economy John Graham is a welcome addition, bringing the total fund to $16 million alongside the Commonwealth through WSI and helping connect people and businesses in Western Sydney to more global opportunities.
Shape the future of Bradfield City Centre
Want to shape how Australia’s first new city in 100 years grows? We’re looking for insights from industry and businesses of all sizes on what we can do to make sure that Bradfield City Centre is a vibrant, exciting place to invest and locate in.
If you are interested in being involved in our research interviews or focus groups, please contact us.
BDA in the news
Missed our stories?
We've been talking to the media about all things Bradfield and the Western Sydney Aerotropolis. Catch up here:
Feature on First Building
At Bradfield City Centre, we're building a sustainable and resilient future for Western Sydney from the ground up.
CEO Ken Morrison showed Nine news through the First Building to learn more about how we're setting a strong precedent in sustainability for future development.
Sustainability features of the building include:
- Modular design allowing components to be disassembled, reconfigured or reused in the future
- Large roof structure with water harvesting, solar energy generation and shading to the façades below
- Green roof with 14,000 biodiverse native low-maintenance plants adapted to Western Sydney’s heat
- Sixteen rammed earth walls connecting to Country and maintaining a constant internal temperature through high thermal mass
- Natural ventilation to cool the building through atrium and façade panel opening
Read more about how the First Building is sustainable and resilient.
Other stories
- South-West Voice - Bradfield ‘first building’ shows the way to green future
- TimeOut – A huge new city is being built in Sydney – the first major city to be built in Australia in more than 100 years
- @AuManufacturing – Advanced Manufacturing Readiness Facility’s First Building opened
- Architecture & Design – Australia's newest city Aerotropolis starting to take shape
- The Mirage – Australia's Newest City Starting to Take Shape
- Australian Financial News – Australia's newest city starting to take shape
- Sourceable – Australia's newest city takes shape as First Building opens
- Real Estate Business – Western Sydney Aerotropolis begins development with new Aerotropolis building
- Property Buzz – Western Sydney Aerotropolis takes flight with first Bradfield City building
- Australian Manufacturing – NSW universities partner with AMRF to boost advanced manufacturing
- Manufacturers’ Monthly – AMRF takes steps forward with university partnerships
- Innovation Aus – NSW manufacturing facility launches with uni partnership
- Process Technology – Universities and AMRF to partner to boost advanced manufacturing in NSW
- Inside Construction – Bradfield’s new Central Park approved as city takes shape
- Bradfield Bulletin – Green light for Bradfield’s iconic new Central Park
- ABC – Mornings with Hamish MacDonald