Andrew Charlton (Parramatta, Australian Labor Party, Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today to pay tribute to Pierre Esber and to place on record this parliament's recognition of his extraordinary contribution to the City of Parramatta. Pierre Esber is in every sense a true son of Parramatta. Born in Parramatta hospital, raised in North Parramatta, educated at Parramatta Marist and raising his own family there, his story is woven into the fabric of our city. With entrepreneurial skill, he built a successful business and created jobs and apprenticeships. He carried that same spirit into public life.

Elected to Parramatta City Council in 1999, Pierre went on to serve for 25 years. He was re-elected again and again because of his deep commitment to the people he represented. Along the way, he served as deputy lord mayor and in 2023 he became the lord mayor of Parramatta. That achievement capped a quarter of a century of tireless service to his community. Pierre's mantra as lord mayor was 'All roads lead to Parramatta'. He believed profoundly in the potential of our city to be the true heart of Greater Sydney. Under his leadership, Parramatta grew in confidence and in reputation as a place to live, work, raise a family and build a business. He championed diversity, creativity and opportunity, and he never wavered in his commitment to making Parramatta the best place it could be.

His background in construction gave him insight into the city's growth. He worked with vision to create a river city that is internationally recognised for resilience, regeneration and recreation. He was a passionate advocate for sustainability, proud of the six-star green rating for the civic hub PHIVE and the carbon-neutral certification of Parramatta Square. With the Parramatta 2050 vision, he laid the foundations for the city's economic transformation. Beyond elected office, Pierre has given more than three decades of service to the labour movement. Chairing the Dundas-Rydalmere branch for over 30 years, his contribution to our party, our city and our people has been immense.

Few individuals have shaped the City of Parramatta as profoundly as Pierre Esber. His dedication, vision and unwavering belief in our community have helped build the vibrant and dynamic city we know today. On behalf of this parliament and of a grateful community, I thank him for his service and commend him for his achievements.