Member for Davidson, Jonathan O’Dea has slammed reported comments by Labor’s Shadow Planning Minister, Luke Foley suggesting Sydney’s north is not taking its fair share of increased housing. (SMH, 15/12/14)
“My stand on increasing dwelling numbers in the Ku-ring-gai Council area has remained unchanged. I have consistently backed the agreed target of 10,000 new dwellings by 2031,” Mr O’Dea said.
“It seems Labor’s Shadow Planning Minister wants to increase our agreed target. This again shows how Labor cannot be trusted on the North Shore or elsewhere!
“It was a Labor Government which agreed the 2031 target with Council and tried to lift the target to 14,000 before the last state election. The Shadow Minister’s comments indicate that Labor still does not respect its own agreement.
“Who knows what Labor would do if it was returned to govern at the next state election on 28 March 2015?” Mr O’Dea said.
“The North Shore is taking its agreed fair share of housing, with a degree of pain and we don’t want a Labor Shadow Minister pushing for more,” he said.
“Labor increased the dwelling numbers with little thought to supporting infrastructure.
“The Liberals and Nationals Government has addressed Labor’s poor planning by increasing funding for public transport, roads, schools and hospitals locally.
The current government has introduced the Opal electronic ticketing system, new Waratah trains, and is planning for a second harbour rail crossing.
Funding has also been allocated to help improve traffic movements through major road upgrades, such as the $20 million allocated for Boundary Street at Roseville, $400 million for the NorthConnex link between the M1 and M2 and $400 million for the Warringah Road area surrounding the new Northern Beaches Hospital.
“Labor’s headline-seeking comment for even greater North Shore housing levels is highly unwelcome,” Mr O’Dea concluded.
