Lack of public transport has been identified as the major challenge in plans to develop ANSTO's Lucas Heights campus as a world-class innovation precinct.
Proposals for solving the problem include connections to the Sydney Metro Southwest at Bankstown and a mass transit link from Parramatta to Bankstown and Kogarah.
The vision for a precinct devoted to science, innovation, industry, and the jobs of the future was unveiled two years ago and progressed in 2019 when the state government promised to invest $12.5 million over four years.
The project has advanced further with the launch of the ANSTO Collaboration Area Place Strategy.
The strategy was designed by the Greater Sydney Commission in conjunction with 17 businesses, local, state and federal government representatives, policy groups and other stakeholders.
ANSTO chief executive Dr Adi Paterson, said the strategy "will further position both ANSTO and Sutherland Shire more broadly as a leader in global innovation".
"ANSTO's Lucas Heights campus will become the place where some of Australia's best and brightest scientists, engineers and graduates connect with emerging industries and entrepreneurs to develop the new solutions that will support our economy and jobs growth into the future," he said.
The strategy has nine shared objectives and four "immediate imperatives".
"Priority 1" is the development of a report for Transport for NSW, to inform future transport plans to ANSTO.
Other immediate imperatives include investigating opportunities for short to medium term visitor accommodation and conducting discussions with NSW Health about commercialisation opportunities.
"ANSTO is already well connected globally and is also one of the largest employers in the shire," Dr Paterson said.
"This strategy will help build on those features through improvements to public transport access, accommodation and connections throughout the campus."
Mayor Carmelo Pesce, said the strategy offered significant opportunities for residents.
"This strategy will help build on those features through improvements to public transport access, accommodation and connections throughout the campus."
"Delivering this vision will mean more smart jobs and more visitors in Sutherland Shire," he said.
Peter Poulet, South District Commissioner of the Greater Sydney Commission, said the strategy would be implemented collaboratively by councils, state agencies, universities and other stakeholders.
"ANSTO already has all the right building blocks; the strategy takes this foundation and looks at how we can work, plan and invest collaboratively for the benefit of both the local economy and the international science community," he said.
"Delivery of this plan will benefit many generations to come..."
The strategy said the next steps in implementing the vision required collective action and resources from all stakeholders, various levels of government and the private sector.
Projects could only be implemented with the support of the NSW Government, which would consider the timing, costs and benefits of projects and initiatives in the context of its long-term plans, including A Metropolis of Three Cities, Future Transport Strategy 2056 and State Infrastructure Strategy.
