Population increase could be detrimental, says Chamber

A projected increase in the number of extra residents the region is expected to accommodate over the next 20 years could have a detrimental effect on the Peninsula if not accompanied with infrastructure, according to the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce.

NSW Department of Environment and Planning has released adjusted population projections for the Central Coast which increase the figures by 10,000 people.

"The spike in the population projections which predict a 75,500 increase in the number of people living on the Central Coast by 2036 has some significant implications especially for major growth centres such as the Peninsula,", said Chamber president Mr Matthew Wales.

"At a time when the new Central Coast Council is under some serious pressures to provide crucial infrastructure to residential areas like Umina and Woy Woy, this increase of some 10,000 people over the previous projections should start to ring some alarm bells at all levels of Government," Mr Wales said.

"The Woy Woy Peninsula has traditionally been expected to take the brunt of medium density housing but, it seems, without the corresponding allocation of funding for roads, drainage, footpaths and community facilities," he said.

"If these projections are correct, then the Council needs to strongly lobby both the State and Federal Governments for more grant monies to fund major projects such as the upgrading of some of busiest intersections including the Rawson Rd roundabout at Ocean Beach Rd, the McMasters Rd intersection on Blackwall Rd and completion of the Woy Woy Rd rail underpass which is still in a state of limbo.

"In recent years, it has been plainly obvious that more and more people are preferring the attractive lifestyle of the Peninsula to Western Sydney and I don't blame them one little bit.

"But this needs to be managed in a sustainable way which the new Central Coast Council has clearly recognised.

"We should not underestimate the impact that the NorthConnex (tunnel under Pennant Hills Rd) will have on accessibility to the Central Coast and the ability for people to drive to the Peninsula from Western Sydney and the Sydney CBD without a single traffic light.

"The Chamber welcomes change and new business but it has to be underpinned by Government investment in roads and community infrastructure," Mr Wales said.

Media release, 13 Sep 2016

Matthew Wales, Peninsula Chamber of Commerce