Big change is coming
We know of the impending opening of the Berry Bypass, improvements to the Kings Highway and Main Road 92, the construction of Burrill Lake and Termeil Creek bridges, improved access to Flinders Industrial Estate, the continued growth of Albatross Aviation Technology Park, the proposed construction of a new Nowra bridge and dual carriageway from Bomaderry to Berry, the proposed opening of additional North Nowra urban release areas, financial investment in Nowra through the navy and the proposed commencement of the Albion Park bypass.
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Added to this, the upward spiralling cost of housing in metropolitan areas has made the Shoalhaven a very attractive option for people living in Wollongong, and western Sydney. The Shoalhaven has become the 12th hottest property in Australia.
Strategies implemented by council, local investors and members of the community indicate an internal and external movement building up to a critical mass of elements that will attract more development and increase population, enabling revitalisation and growth in the Shoalhaven.
People have found the Shoalhaven in a big way. Council will only be able to plan, respond and manage. This change will not be diverted or stopped.
We know this because retailers rely on weekend trade from day trippers out of Sydney, Canberra and Wollongong and there is a consistent growth in development application approvals with people buying land and houses off the plan. We know local builders are busy.
Anecdotally, conversations about change and growth manifest themselves in the form of people constantly talking about increased traffic congestion, little parking availability, longer wait times at intersections, pedestrian concerns, housing costs, change in housing density, housing supply and the positive and negative impacts of more tourists generally.
What should be done to be proactive, anticipate the future and stay ahead of the game? From discussions with residents one can identify a rising groundswell for a change of focus to provide more infrastructure in the outlying towns and villages of the Shoalhaven for the purpose of revitalisation, sustainability and whole city prosperity.
Provision of public infrastructure makes life comfortable and convenient for residents, enhances holiday experiences for tourists and encourages repeat customers and intergenerational visitations. Focusing on increased infrastructure provision and revitalisation of towns outside the Nowra CBD, has become a necessity.
It stands to reason that development and provision of infrastructure in the Shoalhaven has to be in the right location with the best possible design. It must be inclusive, provide future generations with employment and compliment the Shoalhaven’s existing urban environment while responsibly advancing of the best assets the Shoalhaven has to offer.
Councillor M. Kitchener, Deputy Mayor
Public service too private
The government is shedding public servants. NSW government ministers are bypassing employees and appointing corporate CEOs to run departments. The new-wave government employees bring with them inflated salaries more in line with those received by the private sector than a humble servant of the people.
A good example is the recruitment of the former managing director of Melbourne’s Eastlink tollway, Dennis Cliche, as the CEO of Sydney Motorway Corporation, the government company responsible for building, maintaining and issuing contracts for West Connex motorway.
This year Mr Cliche is set to be paid after bonuses $1.11 million, three times as much as the Premier of NSW, making him the richest-ever state bureaucrat. In contrast a government “branch head” would be paid in the vicinity of $250,000 for carrying out the same duties. The privatisation of government departments has to cease.
