'Future of Housing' meeting shows lack of participation
Was the invitation to hear development plans for Central Coast revealed to the community as a fait accompli too good to refuse?
The meeting about "The Future of Housing on the Central Coast" last Tuesday at the Laycock St Theatre was announced with the Newspeak:
"The Central Coast is expected to grow by nearly 100,000 people between 2019 and 2041.
"To accommodate the growth and make the city more productive and liveable, better housing will be a focus for the city.
"Our Question and Answer panel includes Alice Howe from Central Coast Council, Dr Julia Cook from University of Newcastle and Ian Lynch from Pacific Link Housing. They will delve into how they see this happening.
"As Central Coast City Commissioner, Robyn Parker brings extensive expertise to undertaking important work shaping Australia's first global region.
"Her expertise spans as a bureaucrat, roles in child and family services, aged and disability services, and Minister for the Environment and Heritage between 2011 and 2014."
It should have read: "The Government is intent on increasing the population of the Central Coast by 100,000 people between 2029 and 2041."
That includes the recent new "strategic policy" target of development of land west of the M1, including former Crown Land now owned by Darkinjung LALC.
By what means is our population "expected to grow"?
How did the community participate in establishing these targets and the unilateral declaration of "Australia's first Global Region"?
What is a "Global Region", apart from a contradiction in terms?
How will infrastructure costs be met?
By increasing our rates again and reducing our quality of life and our natural environment? Who set these targets and how?
Are these three people equipped to answer these questions of Government policy formulation?
The Administrator has actually said Central Coast Council does not have the resources to provide infrastructure for these Government declared initiatives. But they are happening.
Why is this not a State election proposal rather than a fait accompli?
Where is community consent?
It is more than a housing issue
How did "Our New Commissioner" Robyn Parker get appointed? By us?
Is this how we now do democracy in the absence of an elected Council?
Through a limited attendance ticketed community briefing event on apparent declared policy, while we further defer appointment of elected councillors?
And while the Administrator determines he will hold a corruption inquiry into previous elected councillors, instead of an investigation into the State Government Wyong-Gosford amalgamation?
SOURCE:
Email, 7 Feb 2023
Kay Williams, Pearl Beach