"I move that this House notes the substantial need for public infrastructure investment in Sydney's north after 16 years of neglect under NSW Labor"
This motion, moved by Member for Davidson, Jonathan O'Dea powerfully focused attention on what he termed, "the forgotten citizens of the previous NSW Government".
"People in their daily struggle have had to put up with deficient health services, inadequate freeways, narrow main roads and insufficient public transport," he said.
On Northern Beaches transport Mr O'Dea said, "There are just three points of road access to greater Sydney and not one of them is to freeway standard. The only other access is by Manly ferry. The Spit and Roseville Bridges are operating over capacity in peak hours. There is a pressing need to attract people out of their cars and on to public transport."
"I strongly support the Rapid Bus Transit System concept being investigated for the Northern Peninsula and commend the new Government for undertaking a feasibility study," Mr O'Dea said.
"The North Shore's Pacific Highway corridor mostly follows the alignment established over a hundred years ago. It carries urban traffic within Sydney and traffic from Newcastle/the Central Coast.
He told Parliament, "We desperately need to build the long-foreshadowed F3 to M2 Freeway link. This will help take more traffic off the old Pacific Highway between Newcastle and southern Sydney, including on the North Shore. The link would also ease congestion on Pennant Hills Road.
"Health Services on the Northern Beaches have deteriorated over many years with two ageing hospitals at Manly and Mona Vale. At last, the planned Level 5 Northern Beaches Hospital at Frenchs Forest is being seriously progressed, after years of delay.
On the North Shore corridor under Labor, both Royal North Shore and Hornsby hospitals have had serious funding shortfalls and in turn a decline of standards. Both are now receiving major upgrades," Mr O'Dea said.
"I welcome advice by Education Minister Piccoli that extra capital resources for Killara High School are a high priority after years of neglect.
"The O'Farrell Government is determined to implement projects fairly across NSW. Residents in Northern Sydney should now receive their fair share of new infrastructure," Mr O'Dea said.
