NSW Premier and Minister for Western Sydney Barry O’Farrell today attended the ground breaking ceremony for the new IKEA store at Marsden Park – a store being built due to the massive housing boom occurring in Western Sydney.

“IKEA’s expansion at Marsden Park is fantastic for the local economy and is a result of the NSW Government’s policy of unlocking new land for housing in Western Sydney,” said Mr O’Farrell who was joined at today’s event by Riverstone MP Kevin Conolly and Londonderry MP Bart Bassett.

“The North West Growth Centre will contain an estimated 70,000 new homes and 200,000 people by 2035 – development which is being supported by infrastructure such as the upgrade of Richmond Road and the North West Rail Link,” he said.

“The new IKEA store at Marsden Park will be welcomed by families moving into these new suburbs that need to furnish their newly constructed homes.

“IKEA says the new store will create about 320 new jobs – providing more employment opportunities for people in Western Sydney looking for work closer to where they live.

“The Marsden Park IKEA store is due to open to customers in June 2015 and it will be located in the Sydney Business Park.

“IKEA is first retailer to start construction at the Sydney Business Park, which will also be home to businesses including Bunnings, Masters, Costco, McDonalds and Shell.

“The Sydney Business Park is located close to the M7 on Richmond Road.

“The NSW Liberals & Nationals Government accelerated the vital Richmond Road upgrade by four years because of the project’s importance in supporting new employment and housing lands.

“We are ensuring essential infrastructure is in place as businesses and families move into an area.

“The new IKEA store is being built on a huge 76,000 square metre site – which is about four times the size of the SCG.

“The store will take about 15 months to build – providing jobs for local tradespeople in the construction sector.”

** Photos attached

• ·         Photo 1: NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell
• ·         Photo 2 (L to R): Londonderry MP Bart Bassett, IKEA Australia Country Manager David Hood, Riverstone MP Kevin Conolly, NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell