17th September, 2025.
Members will have to forgive me, but hearing the news of a cap of 2,499 houses to be built in the Appin growth area sounds like a funny number. The number 2,499 sounds like something that would be in a bargain basement store such as Silly Willys. There are a lot of bargain stores in the Illawarra, so perhaps that is what motivated the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces to allow the department of planning to amend the State environmental planning policy [SEPP] over the Wollondilly council area. Jokes aside, the planning Minister, at the stroke of a pen, finally recognised what I have been speaking about in this place since I was elected.
Wollondilly was inundated by growth by successive Labor and Liberal governments. Yes, it is great that the Minns Labor Government has made a change to the cap. It shows that it has listened to my concerns and the concerns of my community. The difference is that, for the first time, an Independent can speak up honestly for the people of Wollondilly. How do I know that? The previous Labor and Liberal governments never delivered anything but houses. Now, with an Independent voice ready to work with both sides for the best for my area, we are getting things done. My electorate includes people who moved for an opportunity and a way of life. They used to say that Wollondilly was a place with "room to grow" or "rural living". That meant space for families to play and grow, surrounded by beautiful bushland.
The area has never had significant investment. Former member for Wollondilly Jai Rowell secured funding for the reconstruction of Picton High School and Bowral hospital. The funding was later cut by the same Government as he was leaving, which left the school incomplete and the hospital delivering essentially the same services and bed numbers. I called that out. My election was the result of not only my voice but the community saying enough is enough. I will not rest while I have this job. I will not sit still. I will call things out and demand what we need. I am able to do that because I do not have to consider the needs of a party, and I have no boss in this place. Through my own time and constant engagement, we are finally seeing investment. It goes to show that Independents get results.
As an Independent voice for Wollondilly, I have achieved a new high school at Wilton, the first in the electorate since 1958; the final mapping of the bypass so that we know the final cost; and a new mine subsidence compensation scheme, written through the amendments of my residents and supporters. I have stopped plans for the raising of the Warragamba Dam wall and shone the light on the departments that were still working on those secret plans when government changed hands. I could go on, but now is not the time for celebration. In light of the limitation on houses due to the lack of infrastructure through the SEPP, it is time to show exactly what we need and get it delivered. The lack of sewer and water infrastructure is one thing. The connectivity of roads that could prevent mass death if there is a fire is another. Both need to be supplied by the developer, not the Government.
We were promised a great new town at Wilton, with jobs and connectivity. The leaked plans are exciting, showing plans for a rail line that goes to Wilton. I am glad the Government is listening to my speeches, reading my letters and continuing to meet with me. Without providing the services, we are creating a major problem. Now there is a limit of 2,499. That part of Wollondilly shire is not in my electorate, but I want to see the staged plans for when the core infrastructure will be provided. I want to see the plans for rail, road and services. If they are to be State funded through voluntary planning agreements, I want to see them, as well as the line items in the budget, so that they do not conveniently drop off the plan like the curse of the Picton bypass that the former member for Wollondilly let sit idle for years while in office. I want it. My community has demanded it. I am here to say that I will not rest until we get what we deserve.