Tony Abbott vents over development on the northern beaches
Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott has called for a halt on all rezonings and major new development on Sydney’s northern beaches, describing the region as ‘choking in its own traffic’.
Manly
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WARRINGAH MP Tony Abbott has called for a halt on all rezonings and major new development until better infrastructure is in place on the northern beaches.
The former Prime Minister said after numerous public meetings, the feedback from the peninsula was clear: “Our area is choking in its own traffic”.
His statements follow plans revealed in the Manly Daily for a major residential unit complex in Frenchs Forest accompanied by 15,000 sq m of retail and a large hotel. It would be part of the 3000 dwellings to be pumped into area surrounding the new hospital in the near future.
And last Saturday the Manly Daily reported that an almost 10 per cent increase in units had been approved or was under construction in Dee Why, further sparking frustration.
“The problem is that we are just permitting more and more dwellings to go in,” Mr Abbott said.
“Every dwelling has at least one car, often two, sometimes more, these are coming on to roads that are already absolutely clogged and this is very badly damaging the amenity of what is otherwise the most beautiful part of the most beautiful city in the best country on earth.”
Other major developments include the Ingleside land release which could see 3400 new homes.
The State Government has announced widening of Mona Vale Rd to help cater for increased capacity.
And a masterplan for Brookvale being planned by Northern Beaches Council would allow up to 700 units in shop-top development along the B-Line corridor.
Mr Abbott called for his local and state government colleagues to throw their support behind a clamping down on new developments.
“The message coming back from the community in a nutshell is ‘we are full and we are fed up’,” he said. “What this means for policy makers is that we can’t have any more people in our area until the infrastructure, particularly the northern beaches tunnel, is well and truly in place.”
The State Government has tried to address some of the congestion with the B-Line — a turn-up-and go service from Mona Vale to Wynyard — costing about $600 million.
That will be extended to Newport this year and is expected to be enhanced by the Beaches Link Tunnel.
Mr Abbott said the new council had to send a “very strong message” to the State Government that they “are just not going to approve any more rezonings until the infrastructure is not just promised but is actually delivered”.
“As I understand it, the timeline is the State Government makes a funding decision early this year, contracts go out early 2019, environmental approval comes early in 2020 then construction commences,” Mr Abbott said.
“Given it is a five-year construction timetable, the earliest we can hope for is some relief in 2025 — that is seven long years away.”
He pointed to the issues around traffic at Frenchs Forest near the under-construction Northern Beaches Hospital which has caused chaos — and lengthy delays — for nearby residents.
“We all support the tunnel, it will be great boon for the area,” he said.
“We all appreciate there will need to be major roadworks as with the hospital but for the best part of two years the traffic has deteriorated dramatically.
“It was always a dreadful bottleneck but has gotten incredibly worse. And all that half a billion investment will do is move the traffic jam, so again the message loud and clear is we are full and fed up.”
The council appears to be towing the same line with Liberal Stuart Sprott seeking support to shut up shop for developers in Frenchs Forest until more infrastructure is available.
In a motion to go before council next month, Cr Sprott will ask his fellow councillors to “call on the State Government to halt any further rezoning in the Frenchs Forest ward pending the finalisation of this infrastructure”.
“We need to get the infrastructure complete before we move forward with more rezoning,” Cr Sprott said.
“I am not against development, I know that we have to have that. But we have to build the infrastructure and plan it right first then we can start rezoning it and getting more people and buildings.
“That is enough for now. Until we have the roads and a transport system being either the B-Line east to west or the tunnel, until that is complete, let’s not have any more rezoning.”
He said the State Government “has had to play catch up for the past 20 years of neglect”.
Cr Sprott said he was grateful the transport and road infrastructure was coming but that development should be put on hold until it is here.
Major Developments Coming Our Way
●The land around the Northern Beaches Hospital in Frenchs Forest is set to be released in three phases. ●The first, which is to happen within five years, would see 3000 new dwellings. That number would increase to 5300 within 10 years. If an east-west B-Line and tunnel came it would be 10,000 homes in 20 years.
●A number of developments including a major residential and retail hub with a large hotel have been proposed as part of the Frenchs Forest rezone.
●The Ingleside land release calls for 3000-plus new homes.
●Up to 700 units in Brookvale.
●Dee Why already has more than 9000 units and another 900-plus are planned or approved within the next year.
