Councillors accused of holding area back

Gosford councillors who stood against the Draft Peninsula Urban Directions Strategy (PUDS) have been accused of wanting to see the area remain in the 1950s by Central Coast Business Review Editor Mr Edgar Adams.

Mr Adams said that the adoption of the strategy should see some major investments by developers, creating sorely needed jobs on the Peninsula.

Cr Chris Holstein stated that "growth has to be measured" and that "If we push for growth on the Peninsula, there is a lack of infrastructure to support it".

He said that there had always been a view within council that if you build housing, the infrastructure will come.

"History has shown that it has been built and the infrastructure doesn't follow," Cr Holstein said.

The Peninsula Strategy has been promoted as a plan to revitalize the area's town centres and encourage population growth.

"The draft strategy is a flexible document designed to result in improved planning outcomes for the Peninsula" said Gosford mayor Cr Laurie Maher.

Cr Maher used his casting vote to adopt the 20-year development strategy which he said would encourage sustainable population growth without overtaxing the roads system or existing infrastructure.

Cr Holstein said there had to be the back up of improved infrastructure to cater for any growth.

He has always supported sustainable growth.

"I think we need growth within our CBD areas but it has to be growth that is sustainable," Cr Holstein said.

"You have to pre-empt the flow.

"If you just build (housing) and then fix the infrastructure after the event, you so damage the quality of life and the lifestyle that people will say they don't want to live here," he said a few months ago.

Peninsula Chamber of Commerce president Mr Matthew Wales said that the existing sewer infrastructure is capable of sustaining the proposed population direction. "However, there will have to be further augmentation," Mr Wales said.

"Certainly there needs to be additional infrastructure such as improvements to public transport, roads and community facilities.

"In principle, the business community supports PUDS because you have to move forward.

"While this document may not perfect, it's a vast improvement on our current planning controls."

Jenni Darwin, May 26