Update on Service NSW centres at Merrylands and Northmead

Western Sydney residents were promised Service NSW centres during the State Election. Here’s an update on those pledges.

Seven Hills state Liberal MP Mark Taylor with Premier Gladys Berejiklian at the promise for the RMS site.

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Northmead and Merrylands residents who were promised Service NSW centres could be forced to wait until 2023 before they are open in their communities.

Ahead of the March poll, Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello pledged to open a Service NSW centre at Merrylands, three years after the Roads and Maritime Service (RMS) shut at McFarlane St after operating for 29 years.

The closure has forced residents to use Parramatta or Auburn registries, where driver’s knowledge tests are not available.

Tony Issa and Victor Dominello at Merrylands for the Service NSW announcement in February.

At the time Mr Dominello said “it’s 100 per cent going to be built”.

“If you look at the Cumberland Council area it’s forecast to grow by about 22 per cent by 2036 so … it’s going through massive population growth,’’ he said.

But Granville state Labor MP Julia Finn called on the government to release details about when or where it would be built.

Julia Finn and Better Public Services Minister Sophie Cotsis at the Merrylands site where the RMS was shut three years ago.

“The population of Merrylands has grown by 12 per cent since 2012, but the NSW

Liberal Government has failed to provide new services to match this growth,”

Ms Finn said.

“The government should reveal their plans and keep their promise to build this new

centre.’’

At Northmead, Premier Gladys Berejiklian visited The Junction complex at Windsor Rd to promise the Service NSW Centre a month before the election.

Labor's Sophie Cotsis, Anthony D'Adam and Durga Owen speak with a resident at Northmead about the Service NSW centre.

Former Seven Hills state Labor candidate Durga Owen said Northmead had grown by 16 per cent since 2012 “but the Liberal Government has failed to provide new services to match this growth”.

“The government should reveal their plans and keep their promise to build this new

centre,’’ she said.

But a spokesman for Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello said Northmead and Merrylands residents could have to wait up to four years, with centres to “to be rolled out by 2023”.

The government promised 10 Service NSW centres across Sydney during the election.

“The NSW Government has announced 10 new Service NSW centres will be rolled out in Sydney, including in Merrylands and Northmead,’’ he said.

“Planning for these centres is still in the early stages. A market search for suitable locations is yet to be carried out.

“The community will be kept updated on progress.’’

Service NSW centres provide services such as Free Rego and Energy Switch, and offer traditional services such as birth certificates, seniors cards and driver licences.