Mr NATHAN HAGARTY (Leppington) (20:07): I speak today against a proposal that has serious consequences for my electorate and, indeed, for Western Sydney. At the meeting of Liverpool City Council held on 25 February, Liberal councillors voted to support a motion put forward by Peakhurst Heights based Councillor Matthew Harte, using the mayor's casting vote, to investigate rezoning Rossmore Grange for industrial use. Let us be clear about what that means: factories and warehouses moving in, concrete replacing green space, heavy trucks flooding local roads, and the very real risk of toxic and dangerous chemicals being transported and stored near homes and families. For those who are not familiar with the local geography, Peakhurst Heights is not in the Liverpool local government area. In fact, it is two local government areas and about 30 kilometres away from Rossmore Grange.

This is not just a planning decision; it is a test of priorities. Once again we are seeing a push to trade long‑term community benefit for short‑term gain. Frankly, it reflects a pattern that we see in this place all too often—that privatisation is in the Liberal Party's DNA. It is not just another parcel of land. Rossmore Grange's 80‑plus hectares has served the community for many decades and has important environmental and Indigenous significance. It is also a crucial element in the development of the Western Sydney Aerotropolis and the Bradfield City Centre. Years of careful planning and extensive community consultation went into the Western Sydney Aerotropolis Plan. That work brought long overdue certainty to residents. Let's not forget that residents in Rossmore and surrounding areas lived through years of uncertainty when the aerotropolis was first announced and during its planning. That uncertainty weighed heavily on families, landowners and entire communities. The finalisation of that plan was meant to resolve that. It provided clarity, stability and a clear vision for the future.

Residents do not need to be dragged back into those bad old days. Positioned within the South Creek catchment, Rossmore Grange plays a key role in flood mitigation and the provision of open space. If this land is turned industrial, that balance is disrupted and the consequences will not stop at Rossmore. Other privately owned land which is currently earmarked for development may be forced to compensate for the loss of open space and flood retention at Rossmore Grange. Again we see more uncertainty for landowners. It means shifting planning pressures and it means private landowners in Rossmore and along the South Creek catchment should be deeply concerned about what comes next. When a critical piece like this is removed, that burden does not simply disappear. It shifts onto others.

At the same time, we are ignoring the immediate needs of local families. Western Sydney is growing rapidly. Families are moving in every single day. Kids need places in which to play. Communities need green space to stay healthy and connected. Yet instead of parks, walking trails and sporting facilities, we are considering more industrial sprawl. Once again, when that land is gone, it does not come back. The environmental stakes are just as serious. Despite past clearing, Rossmore Grange still contains remnants of forest red gum and rough‑barked apple grassy woodland, both of which are a threatened ecological community. Nearby, 19 threatened fauna species have been recorded, including birdlife, a bat species and the endangered Cumberland Plain land snail.

Through regeneration work, we have seen native species return and groundcover recovering. Even wombat and wallaby tracks have been spotted on Rossmore Grange. This is all proof that this landscape still has ecological value worth protecting. Why would we reverse this progress? There are also unresolved cultural heritage concerns. Aboriginal objects have already been identified on this site and further assessment is required. Yet no comprehensive heritage or Indigenous impact statement has been prepared specifically for this rezoning. And then there is what has not been done: no cost‑benefit analysis, no verified financial assessment, no clear evidence of what this delivers for our community.

This should be about building diverse and thriving communities. The Western Sydney Aerotropolis Plan sets out its vision for liveable, balanced and sustainable communities. It should not be about turning Rossmore Grange into wall‑to‑wall industrialisation driven by someone 30 kilometres away who will not live with the consequences. I stand with the people of Rossmore who do not want to see their beloved community's open space overtaken by trucks, noise and concrete. I encourage every single one of them to make their voice heard: Contact your councillors, contact your council, raise your concerns and stand against this ridiculous proposal.