with Warren Kirby MP

We can no longer overlook the evident truth : the people of Riverstone have borne the brunt of planning failures under the previous Liberal National government for well over a decade .

Riverstone , tucked in the heart of the Northwest Growth Area , has taken more than its share of population growth in the last five years ; in fact , it is the fastestgrowing electorate in the state .

Yet despite this massive growth , the infrastructure that services the area is still reminiscent of the Riverstone of my youth .

Roads , healthcare , transport , and schools are all left behind .

Sitting on the edge of the Hawkesbury- Nepean floodplain , Riverstone and its inadequate roads falter when delivering safe evacuation from the region .

The failure to deliver adequate infrastructure is more than just the daily inconvenience experienced by the locals – it can be life-threatening . For this reason , the Government has recently announced its decision not to move forward with the draft planning proposals to rezone Riverstone Town Centre Schofields West and Marsden Park North .

The previous Government were aware of updated flood modelling in early 2021 which prompted them to put Marden Park North , West Schofields and the Riverstone town centre on hold .

The Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley flood evacuation modelling report May 2023 was commissioned and considered by the previous Government but never made public , reveals the extent of infrastructure failures in emergencies .

The FEM has indicated that proposed residential developments in these three precincts would significantly increase the risk to life for the Hawkesbury during a potential flood evacuation .

The previous Government did not to look at ways to fund the much-needed infrastructure , instead of addressing the problem they proposed raising the dam wall . They placed the Planning proposals on indefinite hold , leaving residents and landholders in limbo , while they tried to convince everyone that raising the dam wall a couple of decades from now would somehow fix the lack of roads .

Presented with the same data the Minns Government has promptly made the report public , giving landowners the certainty they deserve and has immediately allocated funds to rectify critical road infrastructure gaps , to ensure the community ’ s safety . The previous Government failed . Not just to deliver the infrastructure ,

they failed to be honest to the landowners and residents of Riverstone Schofields and Marsden Park . They failed to make a decision , one that may not have been popular but one that was necessary to address the years of inadequate funding in the region . The Minns 2023-24 Budget is investing more than $ 600 million for flood evacuation in the region .

This includes funding for Garfield Road East and Bandon Rd in Riverstone and further funding for widening Richmond Road between Townson Road and the M7 . The Government ’ s first Budget also allocated funding for a new Hawkesbury River crossing at Richmond , providing a faster , safer and more resilient connection .

While the road upgrades are welcome news – many people in Riverstone have been devastated to learn their Town Centre will not proceed .

A Masterplan for Riverstone Town centre has been under consideration since 2014 . Creating a sustainable Masterplan for Riverstone is long overdue and it has become a critical issue . Repeated failure to deliver it has contributed to the pressing issues facing the residents of both Riverstone and the entire North West Growth Area .

The previous proposal adopted by Blacktown City Council in 2017 had a residential focus , adding over 3800 residential units or around 10,000 new residents in shop-top housing without adequate provisioning to accommodate the growth .

This is one of the reasons this proposal failed , another was a lack of traffic management .

After years of neglect , we now have the chance to create a Town centre capable of adequately supporting the 200,000 new residents in and around the area .

We need to take into account the evolving needs of the community , a community that has undergone remarkable growth and transformation since the initial conception of the Town Centres .

Surrounding the Riverstone Town Centre , there are multiple new residential developments , in fact whole new suburbs , but there is a noticeable absence of local employment . This presents an opportunity to once again position Riverstone as the focal point for job opportunities in the region . A Masterplan focused on generating employment will promote economic growth and job creation . By providing a designated space for employment generating uses , the town centre will help to attract businesses and create new employment opportunities .

A shift away from a residential focus

to service focus will make Riverstone a liveable place once again . Local jobs will mean local spending and a wholistic traffic management plan will lead to reduced traffic .

Currently , the Northwest Growth Area suffers from a lack of social amenities such as sports and recreational facilities , social support services , and active greenspaces .

Riverstone is home to the most youth and kids in the state – our sporting clubs are overfilled , and their amenities are lacking . The Town Centre can be the key to solving many of these issues with an innovative design that will prioritise community benefits and alleviate existing pressures . Riverstone is a place I have called home all my life . I understand the

challenges it faces - a combination of being situated on a flood plain and being the fastest growing electorate in the state . Whilst the floodplain creates limitations it also creates great opportunities . The solution is considered planning , not a new concept but something that seems to have been lost on the previous Government .

By contrast our Government is committed to ensuring that new development will be properly considered development .

I have been engaging heavily with my ministerial colleagues to provide the people of Riverstone with a town centre to service our needs , a place to gather and engage . A place that will revive the heart of

Riverstone .