State Minister for Planning declares passion for the Central Coast

Mr Anthony Roberts, NSW Planning Minister

Mr Anthony Roberts made his first visit to the Central Coast in his new role as State Minister for Planning, on Friday, February 3.

Mr Roberts was a guest of Gittoes Real Estate and Bonython Property and Development at the grand opening of their display suite for the Bonython Tower.
The East Gosford display suite in Adelaide St replicates a unit in the Bonython Tower development in Mann St, Gosford, including a typical view.
According to Mr Paul Anderson, Managing Director of Bonython Property and Development, the two penthouses and a number of other residential units have already been sold off the plan.
Mr Roberts said during the evening that the Central Coast had been neglected for far too long and that he was passionate about the area.
He said he felt that in his new role as Minister for Planning, he would be able to make sure in Cabinet that the area received the support from Cabinet it needed to reach its true potential.
Anthony Robert’s introduction to political life began in 1995 when he was elected to Lane Cove Council, serving two terms as a Councillor, including two years as Mayor.
Between 1996 and 2003, Roberts became an advisor to Prime Minister John Howard.
His State Shadow Portfolios included Emergency Services, Juvenile Justice, Citizenship, Volunteering and the Arts.
As Minister for Fair Trading, from 2011-2013, he achieved reform in the following areas: the State’s fifty year-old strata and community title laws; the home building sector; the retirement village industry; the motor vehicle industry; and, the residential land lease communities sector.
In 2013, he was Minister for Resources and Energy, and Special Minister of State, where he focused on energy market reforms, including deregulating electricity prices and announcing a market-led rollout of smart electricity meters.
It was here he delivered the NSW Gas Plan, facilitated land access reforms, and commenced the first NSW Minerals Industry Action Plan.
On top of his existing portfolios, in 2014, Roberts accepted the role of Leader of the House in the NSW Legislative Assembly and was responsible for the Government’s legislative agenda.
Twenty years after he began his political career, in 2015 Roberts was appointed Minister to the newly created Ministry for Industry, Resources and Energy.
He led the cluster agency, Department of Industry, Skills and Regional Development and the NSW Government’s commitment of creating 150,000 new jobs over four years.

Event notes,
Feb 3, 2017
Paul Anderson,
Bonython Property and Development
Anthony Roberts,
NSW Planning Minister
Newsletter,
Feb 7, 2017
NSW Department of Planning and Environment media