Councils in Sydney's west are getting $400 million in grants from the NSW government for infrastructure projects, with residents asked to contribute ideas about how it should be spent.
Premier Dominic Perrottet says councils in 15 local government areas in Sydney's west and southwest will get between $20 million and $35 million each as part of the first wave of the $5 billion WestInvest program.
Residents will be invited to suggest ideas for local community projects and infrastructure ahead of the WestInvest program launch next month.
"Setting it up this way will ensure we get money on the ground as quickly as possible for shovel-ready projects," Mr Perrottet said on Thursday.
The WestInvest program is funded by the government's WestConnex asset recycling strategy, which is designed to fund projects and create jobs in west and southwest Sydney.
The announcement comes a year before the next election, with seats in Sydney's west crucial to the result.
"We want western Sydney to be the best place to live, to work, to run a business, to raise a family and these projects are all about enhancing local communities," the premier said.
Details of the funding come on the same day the state's Public Accountability Committee delivered its final report into a discredited government grants program in the lead up to the last state election.
An auditor-general's report delivered earlier this month found 96 per cent of the $250m fund went to councils in coalition-held seats and described the program as "deficient" and "lacking integrity".
Mr Perrottet was at pains to avoid any allegations of pork barrelling over the new scheme, saying accountability was important.
Treasurer Matt Kean said the government had learned lessons from the past and the funds would be allocated fairly.
"The community can have confidence that the money that we're spending is going to the right places based on need, not on politics," he said.
A total of $2 billion will be reserved for high-priority community projects while the remaining $3 billion will be allocated in the budget and determined by government agencies.
