SCULLY IS KING OF THE NIMBY’S

Member for Kiama Gareth Ward has used Question Time to accuse the Minns Government of cutting housing targets in Wollongong whilst jacking them up in the Shoalhaven. 

The Department of Planning’s website says that Regional Plans take precedence over Local Housing Strategies. The Illawarra Shoalhaven Regional Plan (https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/plans-for-your-area/regional-plans/illawarra-shoalhaven-regional-plan-2041) at page 62 says that housing projections for Wollongong City is 13,844 new homes and Shoalhaven City is 4,283 new homes. 

By contrast, the Government's housing targets announced last week set Wollongong City Council targets at 9,200, a cut of 4,644 homes and Shoalhaven City at 4,900 an increase of 617 homes. 

“The government talks a lot about housing. But these numbers prove that the NSW Labor Government is cutting housing projections in Labor seats, and jacking up housing pressures in seats they don't hold. What an absolute joke,” Mr Ward said.

“These numbers prove the government’s housing agenda is one big joke. 

"The NSW Government has been rightfully criticised for setting housing targets without sufficient infrastructure funding,” he said.

"My electorate has significant growth in areas like Calderwood and Badagarang, but the government is cutting funding to public transport projects like the Toolijooa Passing Loop and we still don’t have a start date for a new school at Calderwood. 

“The Government has failed to properly explain how these housing targets were developed. Have they consulted the NSW Land Registry Service whose own figures indicate that the government isn’t releasing enough land to even come close to the targets they have set. 

“You can’t have growth without infrastructure. And you can’t have growth without land and supply. What’s clear is that this government has no real plan to ease the cost of housing and the numbers prove it,” Mr Ward concluded.