Hale supports 'CBD high rise'

Gosford councillor and Ettalong Beach Memorial Club general manager Cr Peter Hale has come out in favour of "CBD high-rise" on the Peninsula.

However, he has expressed concern that this might be perceived as rendering Ettalong Beach a "mini Gold Coast".

In a press release to local media, he said he did not support "the blind, relentless construction of high-rises across Ettalong and The Peninsula".

"However, I believe that most CBDs need CBD high-rise," said Cr Hale.

Cr Hale said this high-rise could potentially improve local economic viability, generate employment and keep housing prices affordable.

It could also improve security, reduce traffic, keep pressure off rate rises and result in better urban design.

"Consider the extra people who, by their day-to-day living and recreational requirements, will spend money locally and render the CBDs economically viable," Cr Hale said.

"Just look at the shops currently standing empty while other hard-working small businesses try to scrape together a living."

Cr Hale said residential developments would bring people into the town and create visible movement and activity making committing crime or indulging in other anti-social behavior harder to carry out without being witnessed.

"CBD residential developments actually reduce road traffic because residents are located next to shops and, in Ettalong's case, next to the school as well," Cr Hale said.

"The new Ettalong Beach War Memorial Club and Outrigger resort will, when those businesses mature, provide 300 jobs in the facility itself and at least 1200 service jobs.

"Every two new residences create one job in services or retail.

"Simple laws of economics suggest that the addition of housing stock will reduce the accelerating price of housing," said Cr Hale.

"This means our children and grandchildren can hopefully live and work near us."

Cr Hale said centralised CDB high-rise development would reduce the pressure for continuous urban sprawl and reduce the need for gun barrel developments in the area.

"Whilst development of any kind must always be carefully considered, those who want Ettalong Beach and other CBDs in the area to remain like the quaint fishing villages of 20 years ago cannot then expect their leaders to be able to address concerns such as security, economic and infrastructure development and service provision unless they are prepared to pay far greater rates and taxes," Cr Hale said.

Cr Hale said he welcomed discussion about high-rise.

"It is always good to see open debate on the issue of high-rise development," said Mr Hale.

"However, rarely do I see some of the most important benefits of high rise development raised in the debate."

Press release, June 8 Scott MacKillop, Brilliant Logic