So the “Major parties outline plans to take the region into the future” (CCN issue 380).
I haven’t seen any talk of community forums for voters to attend to hear, and comment on, these plans (or even quiz pollies about their “plans”), but the major parties-(ALP/LNP) are courting the Urban Development Institute (UDIA) as if the UDIA has the sole right to comment on the environmental disaster pending for the Central Coast.
If one reads the article it was about “finding a balance” but that balance was lost in the breathless “major growth priorities”, land rezoning for “thousands of homes”, “infrastructure to open up the land” and the only moment of fact in the whole article (was)”we have lots of issues with roads”.-.stating the bleedingly obvious.
Reading on I learned that the Central Coast “is becoming more and more significant in the Sydney story, and that’s great for the region”.
What’s not great for the region will be the import of development practices from western Sydney where the destruction of great swathes of bushland will beget rows and rows of house with nary a space for a tree or bush to live, but lots of concrete, asphalt, heat and pollution.
Finally, right near the article end, to give us succour, there is talk to “enhance lifestyle” whilst “the manifesto supports improving environmental outcomes” (a bit of greenwashing snuck in?).
The environmental outcomes, however, will be supporting growth.
The environment is now something to exploit, not protect.
To quote Joni Mitchell “They paved paradise and put up a parking lot” – or soon will be in a suburb close by.
Email, Mar 4, 2023.
Michael Chamley, The Entrance