Ms CHARISHMA KALIYANDA (Liverpool) (21:18): On 12 August 2024 the long-awaited official opening of the brand-new Busby Fire Station occurred. The new facility is on an expanded site at the same location as the previous station. The reopening of this essential community facility marks the return of local fire and rescue services to our community after they were indefinitely moved to Moorebank under the previous Liberal-Nationals Government. The land for the original station was purchased by New South Wales Fire Brigades in 1964 in what was then Green Valley. The land was purchased for £2,150—approximately $73,650 today. Construction began on the original station in late 1965, and the crew opened its doors in March 1966 as No. 031 Green Valley Fire Station. Some say that the original building was never quite an appropriate station. In 1968 the local fire crew began a movement to improve the visual amenity of Green Valley station. A request from the crew for $2 a year to buy seedlings delighted the chief officer and their deputy so much that this was expanded to brigades across the State, with $10 a year—$142 today—for station beautification.

A few years later, the Geographical Names Board clarified and subdivided the various suburbs of the 2168 postcode. As a result, in August 1972 the station was renamed Busby Fire Station to reflect its true location. Despite undergoing upgrades and expansion in the 1990s, by the early 2020s the fire station was beyond salvaging. It was clear that it no longer met the needs of the 2168 community. In September 2022 Busby Fire Station was closed and the crew were moved to Moorebank indefinitely. If members know south-west Sydney, they will be aware of the multiple barriers that exist between Moorebank and the 2168. Most notably there is the Georges River, not to mention the Liverpool CBD, which is often choked with traffic. I draw the attention of the House to a house fire incident in August 2023. It was just two minutes from the Busby station site, but a crew did not arrive until 11 minutes after the fire started. Those minutes are precious when responding to emergencies. As a result, one dog and a litter of puppies died in the fire and a woman in her twenties had to be treated for facial burns.

Although plans were announced for a new station, the 2168 community and the crew saw the old Busby station sit empty for months, with no end in sight. The signboard out the front of the abandoned station read, "We are moving to Moorebank for a year. Back in 2032." Unfortunately, they were only half joking. When we were elected to government last year, I was determined to bring services back to the 2168. Under the previous Government, many essential services in the 2168—police, an ambulance station, health hub and a public housing office—were shifted out. I was not going to let our local fire services follow them. That is why I worked with the Minister to secure the necessary funding for Busby Fire Station in our first budget. Now, less than a year later, Busby is home to a state-of-the-art facility, including a larger engine bay, circular driveway and comfortable amenities for crew on shift. These are the kinds of great facilities we get when we build in partnership with local crews.

The opening of the new station this week included a poignant smoking ceremony by Brendan and Jermaine from the Gandangara Local Aboriginal Land Council, as well as a fantastic rendition of the national anthem by Busby West Public School students. If you go anywhere in the 2168 you will hear just how proud they are to have a brand-new facility in their neighbourhood. Such things are exciting, especially after over a decade of neglect under the previous Government. I am proud to have played my part in securing this essential facility, but I also thank the local Busby crew for their advocacy. I thank, from A Platoon, John Milligan, Clinton Towill, Carlton Hillier, Matthew Webster and Lisa Anderson; from B Platoon, James Towle, Geoffrey Kanagaratnam, Timothy Jenner, Mitchell Nisbet and Chris Ziochos; from C Platoon, Paul Lynch, Kate Bendyk, Cody Benson and Jordan Kajewski; and from D Platoon, Tanya Marshall, Joel Solah, Martin Crighton, Emma Cobb and Robert Southwell.

I am lucky to have such community-minded firefighters serving our area. They deserve this facility and I look forward to joining them as they host a community open day very soon. This is something that our community has been looking forward to. A few weeks ago when I toured the facility with the Minister and the local media a young child approached us to ask when he could go inside the facility and see what it looks like. He was very excited to hear that a community open day is coming soon so the community that the Busby crew serve can see inside this brand-new facility and view exactly what they have been advocating for.