NSW election: Labor and the Liberals major commitments to Blacktown, Mt Druitt, and Riverstone revealed

From a new hospital to major infrastructure upgrades, Labor and the Liberals have made multiple major pledges for western Sydney seats, including Blacktown, Mt Druitt, and Riverstone.

From a new hospital to major infrastructure upgrades, Labor and the Liberals have made multiple major pledges for western Sydney seats, including Blacktown, Mt Druitt, and Riverstone.

On March 25, Labor and the Liberals will be squaring off in battleground seats across western Sydney.

Both parties have made a range of commitments, from wide-reaching road upgrades to health services.

In staunchly-Labor seats Blacktown and Mt Druitt, major commitments were scarce throughout the campaign.

But, in the booming northwest seat of Riverstone both parties made major promises for the “must win” seat.

See what both parties have promised the electorates below.

Health and Emergency Services

Both Labor and the Liberals have made major commitments to health in western Sydney.

The long-gestating Rouse Hill hospital was a focus for both major parties.

Labor promised to relieve pressure on the region’s hospitals by providing 600 new hospital beds, 300 of which would come to the Rouse Hill hospital. Overall, Labor promised $700m to the project.

Liberal Riverstone candidate Mohit Kumar also committed to moving the hospital project forward. The Liberal Party pledged $300m for the hospital, which would straddle Blacktown and The Hills.

Labor candidate for Riverstone Warren Kirby

Liberal Mt Druitt candidate Allan Green also backed plans for a new ambulance station at Doonside.

In Blacktown and Mt Druitt, Labor committed $150m to expanding existing hospital services.

Upgrades include 60 new beds and additional services such as chemotherapy, cancer treatment, and dialysis.

Labor also unveiled plans to deliver an additional 50 police officers to Sydney’s northwest.

The $13m investment would benefit stations in Riverstone, Wentworthville, and Windsor.

Infrastructure

As northwest Sydney continues to swell, roads and infrastructure were high on candidates’ agendas.

Liberal Riverstone candidate Mohit Kumar committed $5m to intersection upgrades at Quakers Hill.

“Replacing the existing roundabout at the intersection of Hambledon Rd and Burdekin Rd with traffic signals will ensure traffic can flow through this major thoroughfare during peak periods,” Mr Kumar said.

Mr Kumar also welcomed pledges to upgrade Richmond Rd, between Marsden Park and Blacktown.

The pledge includes $385m for planning to widen to six lanes a section between the M7 Mwy and Townson Rd, as well as widening Richmond Rd between Elara Blvd and Heritage Rd at Marsden Park.

The party also committed to building new bike corridors, including a 3km stretched in Schofields.

Overview of Rouse Hill hospital as master plan released in November 2022

Connecting Railway Terrace and Tallawong Rd, the cycleway was funded through Blacktown Council’s application for Get NSW Active funding program.

Days out from the election, the Liberals also promised $15m to expand the Tallawong Metro Commuter Car Park, which would see the construction of new levels and other features, including CCTV.

In total, Labor pledge $560m to improving local roads, including Bandon Rd.

Labor Riverstone candidate Warren Kirby said the connection will provide an important alternate route between Windsor Rd and Richmond Rd, suitable for heavy vehicles that will ease pressure on Garfield Rd West.

Mr Kirby also pledged $100m to complete work on Garfield Rd East.

The party also announced similar plans to widen Richmond Rd, which matched dollar-for-dollar the Liberal party’s commitment, including building a new off-ramp bridge to connect Richmond Rd to Westlink M7.

School and Sports

Liberal Riverstone candidate Mohit Kumar unveiled plans for a new selective school in Box Hill.

The 1000-student school was revealed as part of a $2bn pledge for schools in western Sydney.

Liberal candidate for Riverstone Mohit Kumar. Picture: Nathan Schmidt

Mr Kumar’s competition, Labor’s Warren Kirby, also backed a $25m commitment by the party to a vocational training centre at Glenwood, in partnership with the Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre.

Throughout their campaign, Labor made a range of commitments totalling $176m in the area of education in Sydney’s northwest, including to build a new high school for Schofields and Tallawong.

The party also pledged to upgrade The Ponds High which the party said is 78 per cent over capacity and has 44 demountable classrooms, as well as build an on-site preschool with a new Nirimba Fields Primary school.

In local sports, Mr Kirby also pledged $250,000 for a new Quakers Hill Soccer Club.

Meanwhile, Mr Kumar unveiled an $8000 funding commitment to Schofields Junior Rugby League Club as part of the NSW Government’s Local Sports Grants Program.

Incumbent Blacktown Labor MP Stephen Bali also pledged $6.5m towards a new after-school care program, which would made in partnership with the Western Sydney Wanderers Football Club.