Like many other millennials, I am a proud house plant enthusiast. There is something deeply satisfying about nurturing a small piece of nature indoors, watching a new leaf unfurl or a once-struggling plant bounce back with a little care and attention. In Liverpool many people are living in increasingly dense city centres or in suburbs where land sizes have been steadily shrinking and houses are being replaced by townhouses or other multi-dwelling developments, squeezing out the capacity for people to enjoy their backyards in the same way as previous generations did. It is no surprise that house plants and gardening have enjoyed a real boom over the past five years. What began as a hobby during the pandemic has grown into a lasting passion for many. In a time when we were all seeking comfort, connection and a sense of calm, caring for house plants offered just that. Their popularity has endured, especially amongst those living in apartments, where access to private green space is limited.

House plants provide not only a splash of green but also an opportunity to engage with nature in a simple, tangible way. The growing love of plants and gardening has naturally driven more people to their local nurseries and garden centres—places where expert advice, quality plants and a sense of community meet. Located in Bonnyrigg Heights, the Bonnyrigg Garden Centre has been an icon of south-west Sydney for over five decades. It is not just a nursery but a community hub. That is because Bonnyrigg has been able to offer an expanded range of services. The garden centre is not simply a nursery; it contains Cafe Harvest, a beautiful meeting spot for many to gather with family or friends for coffee or a weekend lunch, or a great place to hold a more professional meeting, as I have done.

However, the garden centre and the nursery industry have also experienced evolution and change, like many others. Cost-of-living issues, competition and other factors have led the garden centre and nursery industry to offer a more complete and all-encompassing lifestyle experience. It is attracting customers seeking a one‑stop shop for not only plants but also a whole range of other products and services. Over the past few months, I have met with Bonnyrigg Garden Centre and a range of stakeholders in the nursery industry to discuss their ambitions and the unfortunate limitations that exist in our current planning system. The definition of a "garden centre" in the standard instrument is currently as follows:

garden centre means a building or place the principal purpose of which is the retail sale of plants and landscaping and gardening supplies and equipment. It may include a restaurant or cafe and the sale of any of the following—

(a) outdoor furniture and furnishings, barbecues, shading and awnings, pools, spas and associated supplies, and items associated with the construction and maintenance of outdoor areas,

(b) pets and pet supplies,

(c) fresh produce.

As it currently stands, the definition does not reflect the broader nature of uses offered by the industry and restricts the ability to offer the range of services and the user experience that customers expect. Certain readings of the definition may result in capping the number of restaurants or cafes on site at one. The industry has been asking for an amended definition that allows for a broader offering at garden centres. Ideas include educational training centres, health and fitness studios, floristry and much more.

Unfortunately, the industry faces a narrow and ambiguous definition that has been left to the interpretation of local council areas. Take the well-known retail brand Flower Power, for example. Flower Power at Milperra is a local hub, an industry leader in modern garden centre retail that provides a complete lifestyle experience and is a very popular local fixture for people across south-west Sydney. By contrast, at other Flower Power locations more restrictive applications of the definition are preventing them from providing a holistic offering for other communities. I understand that the changes sought by the industry will also require the buy-in of local government. However, I understand their frustrations, as they have been seeking clarity on and a resolution to this issue for over seven years.

I thank the industry for coming to me with its concerns, especially John Pavasovic of Bonnyrigg Garden Centre, Michael Spiteri of Flower Power, and Mike Mehigan from the New South Wales Nursery and Gardening Industry Association. I also thank the planning Minister and his staff for meeting with me and stakeholders to talk through the challenges facing the industry and the way that government can make it better. I acknowledge that these processes take time and require work by the department, as it intersects with other work currently taking place. I am committed to advocating for this very important part of our broader economy that will help us meet some of the future challenges facing my region, such as tackling the urban heat island effect. I look forward to a timely resolution that brings certainty and more clarity to the industry and local government, resulting in better outcomes for consumers.