Campbelltown MP Greg Warren has accused the state government of raking in millions from land sales in Macarthur Heights but refusing to spent some of it on a badly needed bus service for residents.
Data obtained via a Freedom of Information request showed the government had sold 633 properties to the value of $285 million in Macarthur Heights in the past five financial years.
For the past five years Mr Warren and frustrated locals have campaigned for a bus service to be introduced in the estate, which he says is located in a public transport black hole.
He says transport minister Andrew Constance and the state government are treating residents of Macarthur Heights like cash cows.
“This government has made an absolute motza out of flogging land in Macarthur Heights, yet it refuses to stump up the funds to establish a much needed bus service,” Mr Warren said.
“This is not a big ask. Many residents are forced to walk several kilometres to Macarthur train station – which is an arduous task in the middle of summer – or pay for a taxi or Uber.
“These people live in suburbia in metropolitan Sydney, not on isolated farms in rural NSW.
“It beggars belief that the nearest public transport access is so far away for many Macarthur Heights residents,’’ Mr Warren said.
The Campbelltown Labor MP recently submitted a question on notice to the minister through the Parliament of NSW asking why a bus service had not been established in Macarthur Heights, if there were any plans to establish a bus service and why services had not been established in every new suburb throughout Campbelltown.
Mr Warren says the minister’s response, below, was dismissive and did not directly answer any of the questions.
“Macarthur Heights is constrained by the Hume Highway to the west, Narellan Road to the north and the rail corridor to both the east and south, resulting in limited road access,’’ said in reply Mr Constance.
“The introduction of new bus services to Macarthur Heights would be dependent on operational constraints, including availability of new fleet and the ability for buses to efficiently service the area. Opportunities to introduce a new bus service will be considered as part of ongoing service planning activities to support residential growth in the suburb.”
That’s just not good enough, says Mr Warren.
“Minister Constance needs to stop dodging simple questions and explain exactly why the government refuses to establish the service,’’ he said.
