Ross Grove to quit as Cumberland councillor, Parramatta Council policy adviser

Cumberland Liberal councillor Ross Grove is set to step down to take on a new advocacy role, but it may not force a by-election.

Liberal candidate Ross Grove, pictured in the lead-up to the 2017 local government election, will tonight quit as a councillor. It’s unknown if it will spark a by-election.

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Former Holroyd mayor Ross Grove will bow out as a Cumberland councillor at tonight’s meeting, ending a decade-long run in local government.

The Liberal Greystanes ward councillor has also stepped down as a senior policy adviser to Parramatta Lord Mayor Andrew Wilson to take up a senior advocacy position in western Sydney.

Mr Grove said he would reveal more details about his new job next month.

“Suffice to say it would present a substantial conflict of interest if I stayed on at Cumberland and Parramatta councils,” he said today.

Ross Grove has also stepped down from his senior policy role with Parramatta Council.

Cumberland Council will have the option of not calling an expensive by-election — which could cost about $300,000 — in the blue-ribbon ward because it’s less than 18 months until the next local government election.

“That’s a matter for the 14 other councillors to decide,” Mr Grove, “but this is a merged council which is in great shape and, by any key indicator, is outperforming almost all other merged councils in NSW.”

In 2012, Mr Grove became the youngest ever mayor of Holroyd — which merged with Auburn three years ago — at the age of 26.

Ross Grove at Holroyd extraordinary council meeting to decide the fate of three local pools at the Holroyd Function Centre, Merrylands.

He said he was most proud of helping to secure a $19 million upgrade of Westmead’s Bridge Road rail overpass in December, ending years of bickering between local and state governments.

“This is a terrific outcome for the community, as it’s long been a major traffic pinch point,” Mr Grove said.

Parramatta and Cumberland mayors, Greg Cummings and Andrew Wilson, flank Parramatta state MP Geoff Lee at the announcement of widening Westmead’s Bridge Rd rail overpass to three lanes in the next year.

“I’m also extremely proud of leading the reversal of Holroyd’s opposition to Badgerys Creek Airport. It all changed in 2012-13, when I was mayor, and we gave conditional support for the airport.

Loved a photo opportunity: Ross Grove at the Duck River in Auburn in 2016.

“And the transformation of Merrylands town centre is another thing I’m proud of playing a role in. There’s still work to be done to get it to where we want, but we’re heading in the right direction with it.

“All of this has been a great team effort — but I’d like to think I’ve done my bit to help improve the community.”