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THURSDAY, 9 MARCH 2023
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Policy statements give food for thought The policy statements by Adam Crouch and David Harris (CCN380) in the runup to the election were an interesting contrast. It was also significant that they chose to deliver their addresses in front of the UDIA, rather than in a public forum where they might have been asked a few pointed questions. They could, obviously, count on the UDIA not to put them in too embarrassing a spot about their policies, as the UDIA seems to be a favoured body with the government these
FORUM days. Obviously, Mr Crouch had the harder task of the two, as he had to explain how, after 10 years or more of making a shambles of planning on the Central Coast, the Government has suddenly seen the light and is going to overcome all difficulties in the term ahead. He emphasised the importance of the Six Cities concept, which is highly gratifying, since no government has given it the slightest
attention, since it was put forward in 1968. After a 55-year delay, our politicians have suddenly discovered it as the way ahead, so, perhaps, we’ll really see some action on it in, say, another 55 years’ time. Other than that, he could only point to such mammoth achievements as Rugby League Park and the so-called university campus in Gosford – not an inspiring record. Mr Harris didn’t bother with the big picture. He went straight for the
jugular with a call for “reversing the neglect of the past 12 years” in the housing sector. He touted “Labor’s comprehensive plan to address housing supply, deliver a fairer deal for renters, and make regional housing more affordable”, although this comprehensive plan was actually conspicuous by its absence. The creation of Housing NSW “to better direct resources to where they’re needed” sounds distressingly likely like the much-vaunted appointment of our modern Coordinator-
General a few years ago, and we’ve all seen what a resounding success that has been. Mr Harris did reflect the view of many that there needs to be “less time spent developing new plans and glossy brochures and more purposeful time given to delivering important projects”, so he deserves credit for that, if not a vote. However, UDIA got right to grips with the most urgent concerns of every Central Coast resident – “reduced development assessment timeframes at Council, the
delivery of infrastructure to unlock the existing (development) pipeline and the delivery of a sustained pipeline of development”. It is reassuring that a member of our new Developers’ Committee has the basic interests of residents at heart and can be counted on to represent community values when decisions on our future are being made for us by our betters. Email, Mar 4 Bruce Hyland, Woy Woy
Nuclear power is a possibility Your front page coverage of (the super battery) project at the site of the old Munmorah coal fired power station made me smile (CCN380). By 2035 NSW will lose between 10,000 and 12,000 megawatts of coal fired
FORUM stations base load power and Eraring (2,680Mw) will close by 2025. This Waratah project is a super battery only; it stores whatever is generated only and
has a capacity of only 850Mw. Do you think anyone from State or Federal Government would be able to estimate what the volume of intermittent renewables will be operational by this very early date? It has to be higher than 10,000MW due to its
intermittent operation. Do you think our Federal Energy Minister could provide an estimated cost of buying the necessary wind farms and solar panels from China and in addition the cost of 10,000km++ of new ugly transmission lines to achieve
this goal? Nuclear power reactors (SMRs) with an operational life of at least 60 years (Sellafield UK) ran for 66 years relatively trouble free and contributed to a reduction of carbon emissions of 2.3 billion tonnes over its lifetime.
Renewables have a lifespan of 20yrs maximum, To my simple logic , blind Freddy could decide the most effective course of action, no more comments required. Email, Mar 3 Rod Fell, Kincumber
How about a community forum? So the “Major parties outline plans to take the region into the future” (CCN issue 380). I haven’t seen any talk of community forums for voters to attend to hear, and comment on, these plans (or even quiz pollies about their “plans”), but the major parties-(ALP/LNP) are courting the Urban
FORUM Development Institute (UDIA) as if the UDIA has the sole right to comment on the environmental disaster pending for the Central Coast. If one reads the article it was about “finding a balance” but that balance was lost in the breathless “major growth
priorities”, land rezoning for “thousands of homes”, “infrastructure to open up the land” and the only moment of fact in the whole article (was)”we have lots of issues with roads”.-.stating the bleedingly obvious. Reading on I learned that the Central Coast “is becoming more and more significant in
the Sydney story, and that’s great for the region”. What’s not great for the region will be the import of development practices from western Sydney where the destruction of great swathes of bushland will beget rows and rows of house with nary a space for a tree or bush to live, but lots of concrete, asphalt,
heat and pollution. Finally, right near the article end, to give us succour, there is talk to “enhance lifestyle” whilst “the manifesto supports improving environmental outcomes” (a bit of greenwashing snuck in?). The environmental outcomes, however, will be supporting growth.
The environment is now something to exploit, not protect. To quote Joni Mitchell “They paved paradise and put up a parking lot” – or soon will be in a suburb close by. Email, Mar 4, 2023. Michael Chamley, Entrance
The
We need details of parties’ plans for future Make your vote count I was reading my Coast Community News last week and came to Adam Crouch’s full page ad listing his achievements. Pretty Beach Public School $40,00, Copacabana Public School $40,00 Erina Tennis Club $5,878 and what appears to be Fairhaven for an indecipherable amount. Then I started thinking about the promises his boss (Premier Dominic Perrottet) is
FORUM making for residents of Western Sydney. Hundreds of millions for new/upgraded hospitals, millions for new/renovated schools, hundreds of millions for roadworks and upgrades and billions of dollars for new train lines. While I am very happy for the lucky people out west I am just wondering why some
of this largesse can’t be splashed about here on the Peninsula? Then I received (Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch’s) flyer in my letterbox. It sets out details of the $2.3M delivered to the local community since 2017. That equates to about $500,000 a year. That is very good and the recipients are very grateful, I am sure.
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What I was really hoping for was details of her plans for the next four years. Perhaps she could have a meeting with us (so we can) and let her know what we would like to see happen around here. It is after all taxpayers’ money they are spending. Email, Mar 5 Laurie Powell, Woy Woy
Here we are again with an optional-preferential NSW election, in contrast to last year’s Federal election which employed its exhaustive preferential system. It saddens me, when scrutinising, to see that some people in effect exclude themselves from making an effective vote because they fail to put a number against at least one of the two final count contenders. On the Central Coast, it is almost certain that each seat
FORUM will go again to a Labor or a Liberal candidate. So if we choose to put our lowest number(s) against other candidates, we need to remember to put the next number against one of the two major parties. Personally, I still like to play safe and number the lot! Email, Mar 1 Sonnie Hopkins, Tascott