Our strategy to build a safer, more diverse and thriving 24-hour economy in Penrith and St Marys.
At Council’s Ordinary Meeting on 17 November 2025, Council adopted the OPEN: Penrith and St Marys 24-Hour Economy Strategy 2025-2029. The strategy has six strategic priorities to help make our city centres just as vibrant, safe and connected at night as they are during the day.
You can read a copy of the Strategy here or in the documents section.
About the Strategy
Penrith and St Marys are undergoing rapid and significant change, influenced by major projects including the Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport and the Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport line. This change will propel visitation to the city centres of Penrith and St Marys by day and by night, generating a significant demand for an improved 24-hour economy.
To prepare for this change Penrith City Council have endorsed OPEN: Penrith and St Marys 24-Hour Economy Strategy 2025-2029.
It details a number of strategies and actions to build a safer, more diverse and thriving 24-hour economy in our City’s two key strategic centres, Penrith and St Marys.
OPEN symbolises our approach to developing our city at night – open to opportunities, open to new ideas and open in our engagement with our business and community.
A 24-hour economy will be important to our City’s future by generating more jobs close to home, more revenue for businesses and a more captivating after dark experience for residents and visitors.
Key drivers for developing the strategy
About the strategy
The 6 strategic priorities
| Strategic Priority | Goal | Focus |
| Facilitating vibrant precincts | Penrith and St Marys are attractive, activated night-time centres of diverse activity | Physical Infrastructure and Placemaking |
| Coordinated planning for future 24-hour precincts | Penrith and St Marys are forward planned to accommodate active night-time economies now and into the future | Planning and Regulation
|
| Fostering strong collaboration | Our local businesses are engaged with Council and our City Centre Corporations to drive positive growth in our 24-hour economy | Stakeholder Relationships
|
| Enhancing Penrith and St Marys’ reputation as late night destinations | Penrith and St Marys are sought after 24-hour economy destinations for investment and visitation | Marketing and Promotion
|
| Developing Penrith’s Neon Grid | Our 24-hour economy precincts are easy to get to and easy to get home from | Transport and Infrastructure
|
| A leading 24-hour economy | Council is a trusted voice and advocate for developing the 24-hour economy | Advocacy and Partnerships |
Strategy FAQs
FAQs
A 24-hour economy refers to economic activity in a city that occurs 24 hours a day.
When we talk about a 24-hour economy, the focus is on how we make our economy just as vibrant, productive and diverse in the night-time as it is throughout the day.
There are four distinct time periods in a 24-hour economy including:
The night-time economy consists of all the activities that take place as the traditional ‘business day’ ends and consists of a broad range of industries. These include ‘core businesses’ such as restaurants, cafes, pubs, bars, theatres, festivals, markets and live music and non-core businesses including transport, retail, service industries, educational establishments and gyms.
Penrith City Centre and St Marys Town Centre will be safe, vibrant and diverse 24-hour precincts that meet the current and emerging needs of our local communities and visitors.
Penrith City Centre will be well placed to grow its existing late-night economy and position itself as the night-time destination of choice in Western Sydney.
St Marys Town Centre will begin to develop from an early evening to late night economy with an evolving hospitality and service offering.
Penrith City Council consulted with our community, our City Centre Corporations, local businesses, industry, Government agencies and key stakeholders to prepare the 24-hour Economy Strategy and Action Plan to unlock potential opportunities and respond to future challenges.
Over 30 organisations and 1,100 community members shared their insights, knowledge and aspirations for Penrith through consultation, conversation, workshops, interviews and business visits. You can read more about the consultation in the 24-hour Economy Strategy, available for download in the documents section.
Precincts of the 24-hour economy
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