Parliament returned from its recess in February, and it is good to be back, working for the people of Castle Hill and ensuring that the voices of our community are heard loud and clear in Macquarie Street.
In one of my first speech for the year, I spoke about the state of our electorate and the community campaigns my office has been running on your behalf. These campaigns are driven by the real concerns raised with me every day by families, commuters, parents, students and local community groups.
Our Schools: not keeping up with Growth
The Hills is one of the fastest-growing regions in New South Wales. Thousands of new homes are approved or under construction — yet not a single new primary or secondary school has commenced construction in our electorate.
Parents rightly ask how this can be justified when schools are already over capacity.
While the Government points to the planned 22-classroom upgrade at Excelsior Public School, the reality is that this alone will not solve the problem. Castle Hill High School continues to rely on 51 demountables. Baulkham Hills North Public School is operating at nearly double its intended capacity. Families are feeling the strain now — and waiting until mid-year for construction to begin on a small expansion at one school simply isn’t good enough.
Our community needs new schools — not just temporary fixes.
Transport: dots still unconnected
Transport remains another major concern.
Nearly 2,500 residents have signed my petition calling for a direct bus route linking Cherrybrook Metro Station, West Pennant Hills, the Oakes Road interchange, North Rocks and the Carlingford light rail. It is a practical east–west connection that would ease congestion and improve access to public transport for commuters, students and seniors.
Despite overwhelming support, the Government has stated it has no plans to introduce this service.
At the same time, congestion on Annangrove Road, Kenthurst Road and New Line Road continues to worsen. These are not minor local streets — they are key arterial corridors relied upon by thousands every day. More than 1,000 residents have signed my petition calling for urgent planning and upgrades to this critical infrastructure.
The message from our community is consistent: growth must be matched with proper infrastructure.
Listening to You
To better understand local priorities, I conducted a community survey towards the end of last year. The feedback was remarkably consistent. Residents identified cost-of-living pressures, traffic congestion, inadequate public transport, overcrowded schools, access to healthcare and poor infrastructure planning as their top concerns.
People are not asking for special treatment — they are asking for responsible planning and timely delivery.
Last year, I was proud to support the Hills Shire Council petition, signed by more than 20,000 residents, calling for urgent infrastructure investment, particularly new schools. I worked closely with the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and councillors to ensure our community’s voice was formally brought before Parliament.
Strong local representation means working together across all levels of government to advocate for our region.
I will keep bringing your petitions, your concerns and your stories into Parliament. I will continue pushing for new schools, better public transport and safer, more efficient roads. And I will continue holding the Government to account until the needs of our community are properly delivered.
As always, my office is here to assist you. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if there is an issue affecting you or your family.