POLITICS
New hospital for NorthWest Sydney
with Michelle Rowland MP Federal Member for Greenway
Construction is now officially underway on the new Rouse Hill Hospital, a major and long-awaited milestone for health care here in Northwest Sydney.
For local families, the new hospital will be a game-changer. Northwest Sydney is one of the fastest-growing regions not just in New South Wales, but in the country. For far too long, investment in local infrastructure – particularly health services – has failed to keep pace with population growth, leaving families travelling further and waiting longer to access the care they need.
That’ s why the Albanese and Minns Labor Governments are getting on with the job, working together to deliver the hospital our community deserves. The new Rouse Hill Hospital will be a world-class facility designed to serve our growing region. It will make a real difference, not just by providing care closer to home, but by easing pressure on surrounding hospitals and emergency departments.
On the back of our successful local campaigns, I promised at the election to ensure the hospital would open with both an emergency department and full maternity services. That promise is now becoming a reality, supported by $ 120 million in funding from the Albanese Government.
The Albanese Government is also investing more than $ 200 million to widen Windsor Road near the hospital site, improving traffic flow and helping ensure families, patients and staff can reach the care they need safely and without delay.
The new hospital builds on the Albanese Government’ s record investment in local health care, including the recently opened Medicare Urgent Care Clinic at Rouse Hill Town Centre, the largest ever cut to the cost of PBS medicines, and a record boost to Medicare – delivering more bulk-billing doctors close to home.
There’ s more work to do, and I’ ll keep working with the Minns Government and our local Labor team to strengthen health services across North West Sydney.
Marking the start of construction on the new Rouse Hill Hospital.
MESSAGE
with Brad Bunting Mayor, Blacktown City Council
Listening to you at Pop-up Community Forums
Council’ s Pop-up Community Forums are underway for 2026 and I am enjoying meeting many of you.
Our forums are an opportunity to share feedback with your Ward Councillors and I on what matters most to you. There is no registration, no queuing and no agenda.
Pop-up Community Forums are part of our commitment to listening to you so we can guide Council to serve our community better.
For dates, venues and times, please see Council’ s website and social media.
Taking the hassle out of development applications
Have you heard about Council’ s new digital planning assistant making development applications easier?
Called DAISY, the tool is designed to help you better understand planning requirements and lodge your development
FROM THE
MAYOR
application efficiently. DAISY stands for Development Application Information System and is an artificial intelligence-powered tool available on Council’ s website.
It provides 24-hour access to general planning information and guidance to support people at the early stages of a development application.
It does not replace Council’ s planning staff or decision-making.
I encourage you to try DAISY for your next application.
Flying disc fun at Whalan Reserve Remember the fun of throwing a frisbee or disc at a park?
I had a great time trying out a new disc golf course at Whalan Reserve recently which brings back those good times.
How does it work? Players throw a frisbee or disc and try and land it in baskets installed around the course.
Council has installed an 18-basket course as a way of providing free outdoor fun for all ages.
So grab a frisbee, some friends and enjoy the course.
Let me know if you get a hole in one!
BLACKTOWN CITY INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine. com. au ISSUE 60 // MARCH 2026 19