The future of Campbelltown and the wider Macarthur region under the Berejiklian Government looks bleak given the lack of investment in infrastructure, the NSW Parliament has been told.
In a scathing report card on the Liberal National Party government first elected almost eight years ago, Greg Warren, the Labor member for Campbelltown, told the Legislative Assembly the concept of “sustainable communities” in the region would be nothing but an unattainable dream on the current trajectory.
He said the influx of new residents in Campbelltown and surrounding areas – particularly Gregory Hills and Oran Park – has placed a greater strain on sub-standard infrastructure, particularly roads and public transport.
Infrastructure in Campbelltown and Macarthur had failed to keep pace with the rapid population growth in the region due to a lack of foresight by this current state government.
“No amount of spin or glossy brochures can hide the fact that infrastructure in Campbelltown and the wider Macarthur region has simply not kept pace with population growth.
“It’s like watching a race between Winx and a sausage dog – the poor little canine simply can’t keep up with the great mare.
“Public transport, health care, educational facilities and roads are all feeling the strain of an ever expanding local population and there is no relief in sight.
“The state government’s own Glenfield to Macarthur Urban Renewal Precincts strategy plans to significantly increase the number of residents living in close proximity to our train stations, but the government’s plan to teach, transport and treat those residents falls well short of the mark.
“Under the plan about 9,200 dwellings would be constructed around the Macarthur, Campbelltown and Leumeah precincts by the year 2036.
“That’s almost 28,000 new residents in those areas alone – assuming there is an average of three people per household like the last Census stated.
“Those figures don’t include developments in Claymore, Airds, Gilead and Menangle Park.
“The strategy states only one new primary school and no new high schools would be needed to accommodate those residents.
“You don’t have to be a mathematician to know the number of schools will not be able to keep up with the growing demands and needs of our students.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“The state government also refuses to adequately staff Campbelltown Hospital, provide adequate commuter car parking, or commit to vital road projects like the widening of Appin Road, even though thousands of new homes are set to be constructed in Gilead as part of state government initiated land release.[/social_quote]
“It’s madness and certainly not sustainable.
“We are staring down the barrel of a real crisis and unfortunately we are the mercy of state government who are more focused on lining developers’ pockets than catering for the needs of our community,” Mr Warren told parliament.
This government couldn’t care less. It’s all about lining developers pockets.
We should be stopping further development until proper infrastructure is in place.
Decades ago we had the ‘Macarthur Development Board’. It actually did plan ahead for the future. We need something like this again, instead of myopic parliamentarians making decisions without first thinking long term.
It’s not just roads etc, we need to think about. It’s also water and food security in our Macarthur region, as well as electricity demand.
This also is an area local councils are failing in to deal with. Why are we not seeing mandatory rain water tanks installed. Why aren’t we seeing mandatory solar panels etc, installed on all new housing.
Why aren’t we seeing more large scale green spaces being reserved.
There’s small parks here and there in new estates but we need large green spaces reserved.
We need to stop this urban sprawl until we have the right infrastructure in place to service now and into the future.