Issues for the city and the Federal election
13 Aug 10
Issues for the city and the Federal election
Shoalhaven City Council is asking for more information on 12 important issues for the city prior to the Federal Election on 21 August.
General Manager Russ Pigg said these issues will have major impacts on the city and its growth and development.
"Each candidate for the Federal election should be able to provide information on these issues, as they are vital to the long term development of the city," Mr Pigg said. "These are also concerns that have been raised by citizens we spoke to through our community engagement for the City's Community Strategic Plan."
ISSUE 1: PRINCES HIGHWAY
The Shoalhaven community has long advocated for major improvements and upgrading works on the Princes Highway, which is seen as an inadequate and sub-standard Highway network to the South Coast. Previous State Governments had promised to deliver a four-lane highway from the north of the City to the Jervis Bay turn-off by 2010. At the current rate of progress, this is many years away yet. The Gerringong-Bomaderry section, while in the planning phase, is not likely to see any construction during the current financial year.
The Shoalhaven River bridges barely cope with the current traffic volumes and the stretch through South Nowra is still far from adequate. In addition, there are still many black-spots and poor alignment of the highway from Nowra south to Batemans Bay.
Question: What can you and your Party deliver to the communities of Shoalhaven and the South Coast region which will assist in improving this transport network?
ISSUE 2: NORTH NOWRA LINK ROAD
Council, for the past 20 years, has identified the need to improve road links from the Princes Highway to North Nowra and the residential areas beyond. The traffic volumes within Illaroo Road are unacceptable to the adjoining residents. The impact on the public school and general waiting times to enter the highway need to be addressed by having an alternate road to improve the current situation and cater for future growth.
Council has, for many years, sought approval for its preferred option for the North Nowra Link Road, being a road linking Narang Road to Pitt Street. While there are environmental issues to overcome with such a proposal, the Council has been continually frustrated by the plethora of legislation that must be addressed, including the Federal Government's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act and the State's Threatened Species legislation. Council continues to complete study after study, yet never satisfying the relevant Government agencies.
Question: What can you and your Party do to simplify the maze of legislation and red tape to achieve the community's wish to deliver the North Nowra Link Road?
ISSUE 3: HERITAGE ESTATES, WORROWING HEIGHTS
The Heritage Estate consists of about 1,100 allotments with some 1,000 individual landowners. Last year, the Federal Minister, in accordance with the provisions of the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, ruled that no development would be allowed on the Estate. This decision was made despite an earlier State Government Commission of Enquiry which determined that, in all likelihood, about 740 lots may be able to be rezoned to allow residential development. The Federal Government's decision effectively sterilises the land. Council's preferred option is for the Federal Government in its own right or in conjunction with the State Government acquire all lands within the Estate, to be added to the National Park.
Question: What can you and your Party do to achieve Council's objective and adequately compensate the landowners, where it has been determined that they cannot develop their land because of overriding environmental issues?
ISSUE 4: FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS
The Federal Government provides untied Financial Assistance Grants to Local Government nationally. In the early 1980s the Revenue Sharing Grant, as it was known then, was distributed to Local Government and was based on two per cent of the Federal Government revenue from personal income tax. Since that time, the fair share to Local Government has decreased substantially and is now well below one per cent of the total taxation revenue received by the Federal Government.
Question: What steps will you take and what can your Party deliver to ensure Local Government receives a fairer share of total taxation, so that it can deliver the many services and facilities which the community deserves?
ISSUE 5: REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT & EMPLOYMENT
To provide a buoyant economy, continued business and jobs growth and opportunities for the youth of the city, Shoalhaven City Council has an active and aggressive Economic Development Strategy. However, the Shoalhaven still has an unemployment rate historically above the national average and it is paramount that the Federal Government has a proactive role in supporting regional development, employment initiatives and business growth.
Question: What initiatives can you bring and what can your Party deliver to the Shoalhaven which would enhance continued prosperity, business growth and employment generation?
ISSUE 6: COMMUNITY SAFETY
One of Council's prime objectives is to ensure that our community feels safe. Issues such as vandalism, graffiti and other crimes are continuing concerns for our citizens and many of our communities across the City.
Question: What can you provide and what can your Party deliver to the Shoalhaven community, which would enhance our prime objective of providing for community safety?
ISSUE 7: SPECIAL NEEDS FOR COASTAL COUNCILS
The National Sea Change Taskforce has developed a ten-point plan for coastal Australia towards a sustainable future for our coast. This is a critical issue for the Shoalhaven, where there is an identified need for special Federal funding for coastal Councils, particularly to address the additional demands for works to prepare coastal interface infrastructure as a result of climate change and sea level rise, to cater for population growth and additional needs to provide for our ageing population.
Question: How do you and your Party propose to address these issues and the other points made by the National Sea Change Taskforce?
ISSUE 8: HEALTH ISSUES
In many respects Shoalhaven communities are disadvantaged with many health and allied services being inaccessible in the local region. This creates enormous hardship and in some cases makes it impracticable for some people to seek the required services they need. This is particularly relevant to specialist health services, cancer treatments and mental health.
Question: What do you and your Party propose, which would see enhanced health and medical services, accessible and available to the residents of Shoalhaven?
ISSUE 9: INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS
Shoalhaven communities have been fortunate and have benefited from various Federal Government initiatives such as the Roads to Recovery Program and funding to Main Road 92, which have continued to improve our road network and address backlog works. However, to take the full advantages of the work commenced on Main Road 92, it is paramount that the Federal Government continues to support further studies into route selection beyond Nerriga and ultimately further construction works to link Nowra to the national capital and the Hume Highway linkages.
Question: What will you do and what is your Party's position in respect of continuing the Roads to Recovery Program and to contribute further to Main Road 92?
ISSUE 10: RECREATION & LIFESTYLE
Federal Governments of past years have supported critical infrastructure in the Shoalhaven, such as significant grants for the construction of the Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre in Nowra and the Dunn Lewis Centre in Ulladulla. Our communities deserve high quality recreational, cultural and lifestyle facilities, similar to metropolitan regions.
Question: What can you do and your Party provide for the Shoalhaven community, which will enhance recreational, cultural and lifestyle services and facilities?
ISSUE 11: PUBLIC TRANSPORT
In any survey Council conducts within its communities, public transport availability is always identified as one of the most important issues which need improvement. Throughout the Shoalhaven, there are some 49 towns and villages. Many of these centres have either no public transport services at all or only rudimentary services, in conjunction with school bus runs.
Question: What can you provide to improve public transport within the Shoalhaven?
ISSUE 12: CONSTITUTIONAL RECONGITION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Local Government is a creature of the State Government and has no Constitutional recognition, yet is often referred to as the third sphere of Government.
Question: Do you think Local Government should be recognised in the Constitution and what will your Party do about this?
CONTACT: General Manager Russ Pigg (02) 4429 3260