Ex-Cumberland councillor Ross Grove is new Property Council western Sydney regional director

Ratepayers are unlikely to be billed for an expensive by-election after Cumberland councillor Ross Grove quit to take on a new role with the Property Council of Australia.

Ross Grove is the Property Council’s new western Sydney director.

• Grove to quit as councillor, adviser
• Councillor hired as rival Parramatta adviser

Cumberland ratepayers are set to be spared a costly by-election to replace Liberal councillor Ross Grove, who has secured a new role in the property industry.

The council has decided it will write to Local Government Minister Shelley Hancock­ requesting residents be excused from heading to the polls in a Greystanes ward by-election.

The move, which would save ratepayers about $300,000, was backed by Mayor Greg Cummings, who said it would be better to wait for the next local government election in September next year.

“Running a by-election comes at a significant cost, and there is minimal benefit by the time a by-election is conducted and a new councillor is inducted to office, given the short term,’’ he said.

Cumberland Mayor Greg Cummings.

Ross Grove, pictured at the Duck River in Auburn when he was Holroyd mayor.

As a 26-year-old in 2012, Mr Grove became the youngest ever mayor of Holroyd before it merged with Auburn to form Cumberland Council in 2016.

Last month he quit his role as Cumberland councillor and a Parramatta Council policy adviser.

The Property Council of Australia this week announced his appointment as its western Sydney regional director.

“Western Sydney is undergoing a rapid transformation and we are committed to achieving outcomes for this diverse and growing region,” Property Council of Australia NSW executive director Jane Fitzgerald said.

“Ross Grove comes to this role with an extensive portfolio of experience advocating for Western Sydney’s future.

“Western Sydney is home to 2.5 million people and this figure is likely to grow to over 3.7 million over the next 20 years. The property council is committed to ensuring western Sydney has the right mix of infrastructure, housing and jobs to meet the lifestyle aspirations of this rapidly changing population.”

NSW Property Council executive director Jane Fitzgerald.

Mr Grove said the delivery of city-building infrastructure would be at the forefront of the Property Council’s agenda for the west.

“The property industry is one of the key drivers of growth in Greater Parramatta and accounts for more than 25,000 direct local lobs and $4.7 billion in economic activity,” he said.

“The Metro West will bring great new opportunities to the area and we have recently supported calls to proceed with Stage 2 of the Parramatta Light Rail and we’re keen to see the project continue.”