POLITICS
Looking back on 2025
with Michelle Rowland MP Federal Member for Greenway
As 2025 comes to a close, I want to thank the community of Greenway and reflect on a busy year.
I was honoured to be re-elected as your Member for Greenway. Representing our community remains the greatest privilege of my life. I was also greatly honoured and humbled to be appointed Australia’ s 40th Attorney-General.
This year the Albanese Government has focused on delivering for Australians, and we have rolled out a number of measures to deliver real help with the cost of living. Thanks to our record Medicare investment we’ re delivering more bulk billed GPs close to home. Twenty six local clinics have already indicated they now plan to become fully bulk billed, including Rouse Hill Town Medical & Dental which has already made the switch.
From 1 January, we’ ve capped scripts at just $ 25, or $ 7.70 with a concession card, for all medicines listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme – the cheapest they’ ve been since 2004.
We’ ve also secured some major local wins. The Albanese Government is contributing $ 120 million to ensure the new Rouse Hill Hospital opens with full maternity service, with the NSW Government beginning construction early next year.
Construction has started on the new public primary school and preschool in Gables, and works have also begun on a major upgrade at Rouse Hill High School- all on track to open Day 1, Term 1, 2027.
Road upgrades on Richmond Road and Garfield Road East are progressing with contracts signed, and we have worked with Blacktown Council to deliver new parks in The Ponds and Riverstone- with more to come. I will continue to work with Blacktown and Hills Shire Councils to ensure they deliver the play spaces our growing community desperately deserves.
In response to alarming reports of abuse in childcare, as Attorney-General I moved quickly to overhaul Working with Children Checks, working with States and Territories to urgently progress a“ banned in one, banned in all” approach.
From 10 December, our world-leading social media age limits will begin, because we want our kids to grow up safe and healthy, and ensure that social media is not the defining feature of growing up in Australia.
Thank you to everyone in Greenway for your trust and support. I’ m proud of what we’ ve achieved together, and I’ ll keep working every day to make our community in North West Sydney the best place to live and raise a family. Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I hope you find time to rest and enjoy the season with family and friends.
New cycle path bridges suburbs and connects communities
A new 38-metre walking and cycling bridge over Smalls Creek is now open, creating a safer, easier travel route for residents in North Kellyville and Beaumont Hills.
The bridge provides a dedicated, off-road link from Curtis Road in North Kellyville to Farmer Circuit in Beaumont Hills and connects with the existing shared path along the Smalls Creek corridor. This new connection offers pedestrians and cyclists vital access to local schools, easier travel between the two communities, and links to The Hills Shire’ s extensive 100-kilometre cycleway network.
Mayor of The Hills Shire, Dr Michelle Byrne, said the bridge was a key part of Council’ s strategy to support the area’ s rapidly growing population and provide vital pedestrian links for walking and cycling.
“ I’ m delighted to officially open the Smalls Creek Shared Pathway Bridge, which creates a fantastic new link between our suburbs,” Mayor Byrne said.
“ This isn’ t just a piece of infrastructure; it’ s a new opportunity for residents to walk, cycle, and stay active, whether they’ re doing the school run, commuting, or simply enjoying our beautiful bushland areas.
“ With our population projected to reach around 250,000 by 2036, we are focused on creating more opportunities for active transport. Our goal is to provide safe and convenient walking and cycling connections that reduce car dependency and link up with public transport, shopping centres, schools, and business parks.”
For more information, search for‘ Smalls Creek Shared Pathway Bridge’ on The Hills Shire Council website( www. thehills. nsw. gov. au).
Mayor of The Hills Shire Dr Michelle Byrne at the Smalls Creek Shared Pathway Bridge
22 ISSUE 126 // DECEMBER 2025 MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY HOLIDAYS! theindependentmagazine. com. au THE HILLS INDEPENDENT