CHARLESTOWN ELECTORATE INVESTMENT

Ms JODIE HARRISON (Charlestown) (21:17): When it comes to how much money the New South Wales Government takes from the Hunter and what it gives back, the balance sheet has long been running a deficit for the Hunter. When it comes to the Charlestown electorate, it is the same story: The Government takes but it never gives back. Since 2011 more than $134 million has been collected in stamp duty from the 2290 postcode, which only covers part of the Charlestown electorate. What have we got back? Our social housing at Windale is not fit for purpose and the waitlist for social housing is 10 years. Hillsborough Road is so congested people cannot even get out of their own suburb in order to get to work or school and 11 of our public schools are over enrolled.

Yet here we have a plan by Landcom to sell off and bulldoze some 12 hectares of bushland along Myall Road in Cardiff and Garden Suburb at 19A Myall Road for a development of 66 residential lots and three super lots that was approved by the regional planning panel. This is a multimillion-dollar development, but will it meet the needs of current and future residents? Will the profits be reinvested in local infrastructure, including roads, schools and public transport, or will it just put added pressure on existing infrastructure? This bushland is well loved by locals for bushwalks and is right in the heart of northern Lake Macquarie. The proposed development will impact a further 28 hectares beyond the 12 that will be cleared. It is not surprising that a number of locals have expressed concerns to me about the proposed development, with a range of potential issues being raised. A gentleman wrote to me saying:

I recently moved back to the area because of the amount of established bushland. I believe what little natural environments we have left ought to be protected. Mindless destruction of sensitive flora and fauna should not happen. This is not just for my sake but also for future generations to enjoy and benefit from. Natural habitats are not as resilient to society's needs for unsustainable growth as many seem to think. This rich and established bushland should be protected as the dense habitat supports the bustling flora and fauna within it.

Another person wrote to me, saying:

We can't let this precious habitat, home to many threatened species, be destroyed. It's also enjoyed by many local people for recreation, myself included and makes up part of our vital green belt through Lake Macquarie and Newcastle.

Another person wrote to me and said:

The large area that this subdivision sits amongst is documented as being suitable habitat for 16 Threatened Bird species, 7 Threatened Mammal species, 5 migratory bird species. 1 x known threatened flora … and suitable habitat for 2 other flora. … Nine of these are Regionally significant species/communities of flora and fauna. The Powerful Owl is just one but the most likely to be affected the most. The continued fragmentation of good quality forest and woodlands by subdivisions, roads and industrial areas around the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie areas is placing all of them at risk.

Another person wrote to me, saying:

This project … will cause a huge amount of ongoing concern, not only now, but into the future.

The bushland tag to be destroyed is one of the few central Newcastle bushland reserves remaining. … The flora and fauna are unique and the bushland creates an extremely unique link for wildlife between Glenrock, Blackbutt and Lakeside. … It will congest Myall Road further, the traffic junctions on either end of Myall Road, the access to Myall Road and peak hour traffic are already unmanageable.

Those people are not able to come into this Parliament and say those things. They have asked me to do that, and I am committed to doing so. I ask that the Government ensure that the development, when Landcom undertakes it, takes those people's totally valid and real concerns into consideration as the development progresses. As I said, I am committed to being a voice for those people in Parliament and their issues have to be acted upon.