People will be dumped here, says Wales

A recently-released draft action plan has confirmed plans to rapidly increase population and medium-density development on the Peninsula, according to the Liberal Candidate for Peats, Cr Debra Wales.

Cr Wales was commenting on the Shaping the Central Coast Action Plan, which is open for public comment until February 14.

"The State Labor Government intends to dump 25,000 more people onto the Woy Woy Peninsula over the next 20 years when we are already struggling to provide services and infrastructure for the existing population," she said.

"No amount of blame shifting by (the Member for Peats) Marie Andrews can hide the fact that the State Government sees the Woy Woy Peninsula as an ideal dumping ground for masses of additional people.

"Gosford Council was forced by the State Labor Government to put in place major provisions for medium density housing which has forever changed the character of our local suburbs," said Cr Wales

Cr Wales said that two of the Labor Government's State Environmental Planning Policies (SEPP) were to blame for a flood of medium density housing in residential areas.

They were SEPP 5 which concerned Housing for Aged or Disabled Persons and SEPP 53 which imposed medium-density housing as part of Metropolitan Residential Development.

"A Liberal Government will abolish these State planning policies which override local development controls," said Cr Wales.

"SEPP 5 has caused a flood of in-fill retirement units into ordinary residential areas which is ruining the character of our traditional suburbs.

"But the smoke and mirrors prize must go to State Labor Candidate for Gosford, Deborah O'Neill with her petition opposing the use of the Central Coast as an overflow for Sydney's population.

"It is her own Labor Party's planning policies that targets the Central Coast to accommodate another 100,000.

"Perhaps Ms O'Neill should read Shaping the Central Coast Action Plan before laying blame elsewhere for the Coast's pending population crisis," said Cr Wales.

"Despite all the rhetoric, the State Labor Government has a clear agenda to rapidly increase population levels and housing development on the Central Coast in order to accommodate the population overflow from the Sydney Metropolitan area."

Press release, January 6