Transport Infrastructure

I am incredibly proud to be part of a government that listens and takes decisive action, especially in building infrastructure in growth areas. As the member for Riverstone, I’ve hosted various Ministers on tours of the electorate.

Starting from my office in Stanhope Gardens, we travel through the serene suburbia of The Ponds, a legacy of the last Labor Government. However, this tranquillity is disrupted as we turn onto Schofields Road towards the Tallawong metro platforms.

Cudgegong Road reveals the planning failures of the former Liberal Government. Cars overflow onto every available surface, and commuters park wherever they can. High-density housing dominates what was once farmland, highlighting the previous Government’s failure to foresee the negative impact inadequate planning would have on surrounding suburbs, roads, and residents.

Each metro station—Tallawong, Rouse Hill, Kellyville— compounds the daily struggle as car parks fill to capacity early each morning, transforming roads into barely moving masses of vehicles. This is the daily purgatory faced by desperate commuters.

The North West Growth Area was always destined for substantial expansion, with projections indicating the largest population growth in the state. Despite this, the previous Government’s over-reliance on private development and its failure to deliver adequate public infrastructure are glaring examples of short-sightedness.

Sydney Metro North West serves established suburbs effectively but falls 2.7 kilometers short of connecting to the T1 line in Schofields. This gap limits access for people trying to catch the T1 from the Hawkesbury to the metro, forcing them to drive.

At Riverstone station, the cancellation of the rail duplication has left a single line, restricting train services to a meagre 30-minute interval during peak hours. The absence of express services means residents increasingly opt for Tallawong station’s faster metro service, further overwhelming its car parking facilities. The previous Government failed to deliver a promised multi-level car park, leaving commuters with 500 fewer spaces than needed.

While local buses help, they only address part of the problem. Residents from neighboring suburbs travel long distances to find employment, congesting local roads. The Northwest Growth Area was designed with a comprehensive strategy to minimize long commutes. However, with most growth area projects rezoned and the population booming, there is a severe lack of supporting infrastructure.

Twelve years of failure cannot be undone in a single year. The Minns Labor Government has allocated significant funds to the Riverstone electorate to improve infrastructure, and I will continue to advocate for more.

Adequate local employment is the heart of a livable city—projects like the Riverstone West Precinct and Riverstone Town Centre are crucial to alleviating current issues. By establishing local employment hubs and robust housing, we can secure a better future for Riverstone families. We can fix it, but we must remember the previous Government’s mistakes and ensure they are never repeated.