[dropcap]C[/dropcap]ampbelltown Council’s vision for massive growth in the region is “ambitious but sadly unrealistic’’, says State Member for Macquarie Fields and former mayor, Anoulack Chanthivong.
“Around 2,000 constituents have completed my Stop the Squeeze survey and have emphatically told me that our city is at breaking point,” he said today.
“A lack of commuter parking, overcrowded schools and hospitals, inadequate transport services, disappearing green spaces and worsening congestion are all severely diminishing their quality of life.
“If our area can’t cope with a current population of 167,000, how do we cope with 275,000 people without funded commitments to improve vital infrastructure and community services?
“In my experience, expensive glossy brochures and artists’ impressions are very different from the actual reality,” he said.
In response, Campbelltown Mayor George Brticevic says “the Member for Macquarie Fields is entitled to his view’’.
“Council doesn’t share his doubts. Campbelltown is a proud and wonderful city and to cast a dampener on our future is to deny our children and their children the dream of more and better jobs, greater amenities, and a creative and innovative future that embraces technology and sustainability and creates opportunity,’’ Cr Brticevic said .
“By not creating a vision and strategy, Council would be denying our community an opportunity for home ownership through diversity and affordability.
“We can’t tolerate more of the same – business as usual, the same old assumptions, being reactive rather than proactive. We are listening to our community.
“Council is here to promote confidence in Campbelltown, not talk it down. We want investment, we learn from business that investment follows ambition, innovation, change and vision.
“Council doesn’t want growth to occur the way previous Councils have let it occur. Council is not going to look to the future by looking backwards.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“Council wants to show it’s serious about dealing with the realities of growth, managing that growth, getting a better return from that growth.[/social_quote]
“Dream the vision, commit to the vision and others will join you. That’s my quest – not dispatching our future to the ‘too hard basket’.
“Council would encourage all to join in partnership on this exciting journey, to live and support the dream,” Cr Brticevic said .
Campbelltown Council last Wednesday launched in the NSW Parliament Re-imagine Campbelltown, a consultant’s report on how to respond to massive projected growth in the area.
The report proposed a vision for the Campbelltown CBD and its future as a vibrant, dynamic, active centre to cater for the greater Macarthur region.
Mr Chanthivong says council’s plan would only work if the State and Federal Liberal Governments stopped ignoring the needs of our community and gave us our fair share of resources to meet our current and future needs as we continue to grow.
“Don’t be fooled. The Liberals’ record in delivering for South West Sydney is abysmal,’’ he said.
The Macquarie Fields MP also said that Campbelltown was short-changed in the Western Sydney City Deal because it failed to get a rail link connecting the Western Sydney Airport to Macarthur and Leppington.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“And we have a State Liberal Government that can’t commit to a lift at Macquarie Fields Station or a larger commuter car park at Edmondson Park.[/social_quote]
“The same State Liberal Government that has closed our two local motor registries, plans to sell the Hurlstone Farm and made unfair changes to our train timetables by adding to already long commutes while lumping us with non-air conditioned trains.
“And yet, we are expected to trust them to provide the billions required in crucial infrastructure we need to support Council’s plan?
“I am not fooled and my community will not be fooled by the Liberals’ empty promises.”
In response, Cr Brticevic says the City Deal “puts a link to Campbelltown on the map and commits to a strategic business case valued at up to $100 million. That wasn’t the case before the City Deal’’.
“The rail line has to be staged, that’s the economic reality, and we have confidence the north-south rail link connecting to Campbelltown will be completed,’’ he said.
“I have been lobbying the NSW and a Federal Governments to identify and preserve corridors so that the connection can be realised, and not lost to new development. Our Council is hoping for action on the corridors as a matter of priority, and will continue to push that case.
“By committing to the corridors as set out in the City Deal, the governments send a strong signal that they are serious about the rail link. I can assure our community that our Council is totally committed to enhancing public transport access to the new airport from Campbelltown and will continue to advocate strongly to ensure our community’s needs are understood and addressed by government.
“I would call on the member for Macquarie Fields to support the north-south rail link as a game changer for the future of Western Sydney, and to seek an assurance from the NSW and Federal oppositions that they commit to the delivery of the extension of the link from the airport through to Campbelltown/Macarthur by the time the airport opens for business in 2026.
“That commitment would enjoy the Council’s full support and that of the community,” the mayor said.
Mr Chanthivong said it was time we learnt from past mistakes and stopped playing catch-up with infrastructure.
“Plans like this only lead to congestion and make our city unsustainable and unlivable if they are not backed by funded commitments for better services and infrastructure now – not at a future undetermined date.
“It is the people in our community, their kids and grandkids, who will suffer from the lack of investment that is required to support this ambitious plan.”
Mr Chanthivong’s Stop the Squeeze survey is seeking community feedback on the State Government’s plans to unleash high-rise monstrosities around train stations from Glenfield through to Macarthur.
“The overwhelming message from my local residents is this – development is out of control in our suburbs and people have had enough.
“They want to see firm action on infrastructure before more people move into our suburbs. The planning mistakes of the past must not be repeated.”
