Planning should be driven by community needs
I am writing in response to the media release from the Minister for Planning published in the Peninsula News on March 10 regarding the State's push to increase housing density in Woy Woy.
Woy Woy's roads are already at breaking point.
At peak times, Woy Woy Rd, Brisbane Water Dr, and Empire Bay Dr are gridlocked, with residents struggling through long delays just to get in and out of the area.
Adding more housing and increasing population without upgrading critical infrastructure is irresponsible and will only make these problems worse.
Beyond the daily frustration of traffic congestion, there is also the question of emergency preparedness.
Has anyone considered how Peninsula's 40,000 residents would be evacuated in the event of a tsunami or a sudden rise in sea levels?
With only three road exits and no formal evacuation plan in place, this is something that should be considered.
While I personally would prefer housing density to be increased on land that is already used for housing or commercial properties rather than clearing bushland, I wonder if that is what the locals want?
This plan is being imposed on residents without any meaningful consultation.
The measures introduced to "boost housing supply around transport and town centres" stem from the now-defunct, but not entirely abandoned, Greater Cities Commission, which has been pushing "15-minute city' concepts.
If this is truly what Woy Woy locals want, then I support it-but I question whether that is the case.
With around 10 per cent of houses on the Central Coast sitting empty, why is the government so focused on pushing new developments instead of making better use of existing housing stock?
If these properties were subject to a vacancy tax, many could be opened up for long-term rental, easing housing pressures without the need for further urban sprawl.
Planning should be driven by the needs and voices of the community, not top-down directives that fail to consider local realities.
I urge the government to listen to residents before forcing through plans that could have long-term consequences for our town's safety and liveability.
SOURCE:
Email, 18 Mar 2025
Lisa Bellamy, Kariong