The greatest challenge facing Central Coast residents in 2024 is cost-of-living pressures according to Member for Terrigal and former Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast Adam Crouch.
Crouch believes the removal of many of the former government’s voucher programs has seriously contributed to the pressures facing Coast residents.
“These vouchers genuinely supported families by easing some of those pressures,” he said.
“It’s been very frustrating, and I call on the Government to reinstate the vouchers(taken) off families.”
The vouchers included: the $250 Regional Seniors Travel Card used by more than 41,000 Central Coast seniors; a $100 First Lap Swim Voucher per child aged three to six to assist with swimming lessons; a $200 a year per child Active Kids voucher for school-enrolled children; a $100 Creative Kids voucher per child per year; and three $50 Back to School vouchers per child for school stationery and uniforms.
“The seniors travel card was used on the Central Coast more than anywhere else in NSW by a long way,” Crouch said.
“I knew of some who used it for a Shirley Shuttle to get cancer treatment.
“The Government has taken away brilliant support for cost-of-living pressures that were all rolled-out seamlessly, and the local Labor MPs are nowhere to be seen.”
Crouch says his catchcry that the Central Coast is the best region in the best state in the best country in the world remains firm, but he is concerned about the future of the Coast due to lack of investment from the current Government.
“We need the continuation of funding for major infrastructure projects that were underway under the previous government including the upgrade of the intersection of the Central Coast Hwy and Tumbi Rd at Wamberal, Avoca Dr through Kincumber, and the Central Coast Hwy from Tumbi Rd to Bateau Bay Rd,” he said.
“There’s been no new funding from the State Labor Government for any of these projects.
“These projects create thousands of jobs for Central Coast locals and businesses.
“It’s been 12 months of inactivity and that’s just in my electorate.”
Crouch said childcare was a “real issue” for many young Central Coast families.
“The Government announced it would deliver 100 new childcare centres yet not one was earmarked for the Coast, despite the fact that there are four Labor MPs on the Coast and two Ministers,” he said.
“Not $1 has been earmarked for Gosford TAFE; such an important project for the Central Coast.”
Crouch said $150M had been cut from palliative care without consultation and the new palliative care unit at Wyong Hospital was “up in the air”.
He believed paid parking at Gosford Hospital added to the cost-of-living squeeze and was the first to raise fears that staff at Gosford Hospital would have to start paying for parking.
Those fears were confirmed when the Government announced free parking for staff would cease on February 1.
Environmentally, he was critical of the Government’s refusal to abolish shark nets that “do not work”.
“The former government invested $80M in new technology for shark mitigation including drones and smart drum lines which proved very successful,” he said.
For 2024 Crouch said he would like to see the seniors travel card reinstated, all cost-of-living measures that were in place reinstated, the continued investment in roads and childcare and the finalisation of funding for Gosford TAFE, a key part of the education process on the Coast.
“It’s about us getting our fair share – not $1 extra has been announced for anything,” he said.
“Nobody is standing up for the people of the Central Coast.”
Denice Barnes
Glad to see an MP standing up strongly for those on the community who desperately need someone to stand up for them. We love your strong, loud voice Adam Crouch.
Glad to see an MP standing up strongly for those on the community who desperately need someone to stand up for them. We love your strong, loud voice Adam Crouch.