Mez01

Despite it's distance from the Sydney CBD (approx 50kms), and considerable negative publicity about rundown public housing estates, Campbelltown is, in general, a pleasant place to live. The city is well serviced by public transport, with train lines to the city and the southern highlands and bus services to Wollongong, Camden as well as local suburbs, although the buses do tend to be expensive and infrequent, and the trains now take longer to reach the city than they did 10 years ago before the opening of the Airport Line. Campbelltown has ample services including three hospitals (one public and two private) and plenty of doctors, medical centres and specialists. Council facilities such as lesiure centres, sports grounds and libraries are ample and well maintained. Campbelltown also has two newish, state of the art private gyms with pools - Aquafit and Fitness First. Macarthur Square, the main shopping centre, has recently been redeveloped with the addition of "Kellicar Lane", a plaza style entertainment precinct that includes restaurants, ten pin bowling and an Event movie cinema. However, apart from this precinct there's not much in the way of nightlife, and the main street of town (Queen St) is like a ghost town in the evenings and on Sundays with barely a coffee shop open.

Shopping centres are plentiful in Campbelltown with Campbelltown Mall, Campbelltown Marketfair, Macarthur Square, the recently opened Brands on Sale, as well as smaller plazas scattered throughout. There are also many homemaker stores such as Harvey Norman, The Good Guys, Sleeping Giant etc along Blaxland Road. There is a great deal of community spirit with local fairs such as the annual Fisher's Ghost Festival and the Ingleburn Alive Festival attracting many participants, and locals are renowned for 'doing their bit' for a good cause, particularly if it benefits local people who are in need.

From a business perspective, Campbelltown provides significant job opportunities with industrial areas in Leumeah, Ingleburn, Minto and in nearby Smeaton Grange (Narellan).

On the down side, there are relatively high crime rates, particularly property crimes such as car theft and break and enters. There's also high rates of unemployment.

Overally though, Campbelltown is a pretty decent place to live alongside down to earth and caring people.