A 91-hectare industrial estate is coming to Glenfield it seems, whether you like it or not
Remember when we were promised parks and open space as our suburbs grew? Remember being told that with development comes community facilities?
Well, forget all that.
This coming Wednesday 29 April, Liverpool Council will vote on a planning proposal that perfectly sums up how things work around here: Residents took the time to submit objections. All said no. And Council is recommending it go ahead anyway.
So What’s Actually Happening
The site in question is massive – 91.55 hectares or 915,500sqm approximately at 2 Cambridge Avenue, Glenfield. To give some perspective, that’s roughly the size of 130 footy fields. Right now it’s zoned for public recreation. It was supposed to become regional open space for our growing community.
Instead, it’s being rezoned for industrial warehouses.Anoher 280,000 sqm of warehousing along the Georges River bringing the total to a whopping and misplaced 1,500,000 sqm.
The land straddles the Liverpool and Campbelltown council areas, split by the East Hills railway line. It’s currently home to the Glenfield Waste Services Facility, which has been operating since 1991. To the east sits the Moorebank Industrial Precinct. To the south and west? Well shockingly, family homes and neighbourhood parks.
What Council Isn’t Telling You
Here’s where it gets interesting.
This land has been marked for “regional open space” since 2008. The state government was supposed to buy it and turn it into parkland once the waste facility shut down. Except in 2016, a quiet “Deed of Termination” removed that obligation. Then in October 2025, the Department of Planning sent a letter confirming they have “no plans to acquire” the site.
Council’s response? “Too expensive to remediate. Can’t afford it. Let’s just rezone it for industry instead.”
No proper analysis of what it would actually cost. No exploration of state or federal grants for contaminated land remediation. No consideration of the community benefit of having 91 hectares of open space in one of Sydney’s fastest-growing regions.
The Community Said No. All of Them
Between 3 February and 3 March 2025, Council put the proposal on “preliminary exhibition.” They letterboxed 1,700 properties. Eighteen people took the time to write detailed submissions.
Every. Single. One. Objected.
What were people worried about?
Loss of promised open space. Residents pointed out this land was always meant to be a park. They feel betrayed.
Traffic chaos. More industrial land means more trucks. The roads are already struggling with the Moorebank Intermodal. Now this? (15,000 Trucks a day potentially)
Another industrial estate. The Moorebank Intermodal is right next door. How much industrial development can one area handle before it becomes unliveable?
Contaminated land. It’s a former waste facility. What’s buried there? Who pays to clean it up?
Flooding concerns. Parts of the site are flood-affected, though Council and the proponent are now arguing about whether the approved “final landform” changes that.
Council’s Response? “Thanks, But We’re Doing It Anyway”
Here’s the kicker. Council staff assessed all 18 submissions and basically said: “We hear you, but no.”
Their report acknowledges the concerns. Then it dismisses them, one by one:
- “We can’t acquire it, it’s too contaminated.” (No costings provided, no grant applications explored)
- “The rezoning doesn’t approve any specific development.” (Technically true, but it opens the door for applications once the lands is rezoned.)
- “Any future proposal would be assessed separately.” (After the land is already zoned industrial)
- “It’s privately owned, so we can only assess what’s proposed.” (Convenient excuse)
The Local Planning Panel agreed with staff. The proposal “demonstrates strategic and site-specific merit,” they said.
Merit for who, exactly? Not the 18 residents who objected. Not the families who were promised parkland. Not the community dealing with traffic from the Intermodal.
We contacted Eric North from RAID who currently has his own podcast simulcast on 89.3 2 GLF “Think Moore”. Mr North said.”They must off chops—thats the politest why I can put it”.
“On the facts and in the context of Moorebank inland Port (MIP) along the adjacent bank of the Georges River there is not and will never be strategic and site-specific merit for more warehousing. Why? because the MIP is already non compliant. It is already in breach as its 600,000 sqm limit has been replaced with 1,220,000 sqm of built form—at double and triple the height originally approved. Blindly adding another 280,000 sqm and associated traffic impacts and related air and noise pollution isn’t just bad planning, it borders on illegal. Not merely as an extension of current noncompliance, but as contravention of the LLEP itself. So like I said off chops.”
Mr North continued stating “Liverpool City Council should have undertaken Civil Enforcement (s9.45) of Moorebank inland Port each time the Proponent or the State uprated the project beyond legal limits of consent and the physical limits out our local and regional road network, snd the physical limits of our lungs and lives; and the psychological limits of broken sleep. All of which is already being exceeded. Which is to say LCC ought to have taken legal action over a decade ago, and again in March 2022, and again in December 2024 (into January-February 2025).” So the question then is, why did it not? Why is council not acting as it has done for other residents and for itself?
The Intermodal Committee Has Gone Silent
Mr North explains,”that at these pivotal moments current and former Councillors and Mayors have been too busy running for council or higher office and or Council has silenced, and even attempted to disband the No Intermodal Committee come Intermodal Precinct Committee. The precise forums for these issues.” Given that the Committee was set up specifically to give residents a voice on industrial development impacts and make recommendations to Council on how best to advocate in the best interests of Community.
“The last time we met was August of 2024”, shared Mr North. “After the contentious election in September, three councillors were assigned to the committee. But no Chairperson was selected and no dates were set for meetings.” The application for Glenfield Industrial Precinct was lodged in late 2024 and comes to council in April 2026 meanwhile the committee that’s supposed to be monitoring cumulative impacts of industrial development has has been silenced again as another 91 hectares gets rezoned for industry.
Over 20 months since the committee’s last meeting, almost 14 months since a resolution to maintain the committee, and it has not met. All while its community members and the community at large has pointed out the problems with and objected to Glenfield Industrial Precinct and its associated rezoning.
Coincidence? You decide.
Everything’s Moving in One Direction
Here’s the pattern:
- Land gets marked for open space in 2008
- State government quietly removes acquisition obligation in 2016
- State government confirms no plans to acquire in 2025
- Private landowner submits rezoning proposal
- Council says “too expensive” to acquire for parkland
- Community objects 100%
- Council recommends approval anyway
- Local Planning Panel agrees
- Intermodal committee nowhere to be seen
It’s like watching a train on tracks. Everyone can see where it’s going. Nobody seems able to stop it. Or as Mr North points out, perhaps its just that “no one is willing to stop it. No one takes their oath of office seriously?”
What Happens Next
On 29 April, Council will vote on whether to send this proposal to the Department of Planning for a “Gateway Determination.” If they vote yes, there’ll be another round of public exhibition and consultation.
But here’s the thing: we’ve already seen how Council treats community feedback. Eighteen objections. Zero impact.
The second exhibition will be your last chance to have a say. After that, it’s out of Council’s hands and into the state planning system.
Why You Should Care (Even If You Don’t Live in Glenfield)
This isn’t just about one site. It’s about how planning decisions get made in Liverpool.
It’s about whether community feedback actually matters, or whether it’s just a box-ticking exercise.
It’s about whether promised open space means anything, or whether it’s just a placeholder until a developer comes along with a better offer.
It’s about whether our suburbs are being planned for the people who live here, or for the convenience of landowners and logistics companies.
If you live in any of Liverpool’s growth areas – Austral, Leppington, Edmondson Park, Catherine Field – pay attention. Because what’s happening in Glenfield is the blueprint for what could happen in your suburb.
What You Can Do
1. Attend the Council meeting
Wednesday 29 April 2026, 5:30pm
Liverpool Civic Tower Council Chamber
Level 1, 50 Scott Street, Liverpool
You can attend in person or watch the livestream on Youtube here.
2. Contact your councillor
Let them know you’re watching. Let them know you care about open space. Here is a full list with all their email addresses and mobile numbers.
3. Get it on the record with the Liverpool Mayor
Yes maybe the Mayor might have a little time to read email after his new investigation CSI inspired crime series career took a spectacular nose dive.You can email the Mayor direct at mayor@liverpool.nsw.gov.au . with the subject: PD02 – REZONING 2 CAMBRIDGE AVENUE GLENFIELD – SEEMS A BIT SILLY ……SAUSAGE
The Bottom Line
Ninety-one hectares of land that was supposed to be your park is about to become industrial warehouses.
Eighteen residents said no. Council is recommending yes anyway.
The committee that’s supposed to monitor this kind of development has gone quiet.
Everything’s moving in one direction, and it feels like nobody can stop it.
But here’s the thing: they can’t ignore all of us.
Wednesday 29 April. 5:30pm. Be there.
Because if we don’t show up, they’ll take that as permission to keep doing this.
The planning proposal documents are available on Council’s website. Search for DA-567857 or “2 Cambridge Avenue Glenfield.” Read the 18 submissions. Read Council’s dismissive responses. Then ask yourself: does your feedback actually matter?
Liverpool Council Meeting Agenda Wednesday 29th of April starting at 5:30pm
