Closing the gate is the only option
The great man Allen Strom was, and still is, legendary.
In November 1989, Mr Strom had the foresight to comment on the future, referring to State Planning pundits deciding to make Gosford-Wyong part of the Sydney region, a decislon made in 1968.
Target population was given at 500,000.
Since 1968, planning policies have been based on achieving this target.
The latest regional plan, and now rezoning proposals, will reduce the gap to the target population which will be achieved sooner than expected.
Mr Strom added this comment: "The 20 years since 1968 has been too short for Gosford Council to catch-up with roads and drainage systems.
"Gung-ho development has exacerbated the problems."
If politicians and planners are serious about "closing the gate" at 500,000, then the next Regional Plan will need to begin the reduction of population growth.
And the matter of development density on the Peninsula can then be addressed with certainty.
Mr Strom's suspicions resurfaced in the introduction to the Central Coast Regional Plan 2036 with this comment on page four: "Safeguarding the environment is paramount."
This is exactly opposite to the State Government's intentions for the local government area.
When Mr Peter Wilson was general manager of Gosford, he scoffed at the suggestion at a public meeting of closing the gate.
The wheel has turned full circle and now closing the gate is the only option.
Residents knew there were problems when Mr Wilson was in charge.
Peninsula residents have been forced to live with bureaucratic development tunnel vision.
SOURCE:
Letter, 22 Feb 2024
Norm Harris, Umina