14 Dec 2010

Red Tape

The State Government’s Metro Strategy is their plan to grow Sydney.  Under this plan, some 70% of all new dwellings will be in existing suburbs. This means more high rises, more people, and being more crowded. Council is trying to limit the density increases to specific areas so that most of our residents are not affected by having a block of units being built next door to them.

There are many problems with the Metro Strategy, including that there are no new sporting fields being provided, no upgrade to roads and no upgrades to other infrastructure. The State Government is growing Sydney on the cheap, and it will destroy the lifestyle we enjoy here in The Hills.

The Metro Strategy is a terrible concept but the execution of their own plan is even worse. It is being hampered because State Government departments can’t seem to work together. We currently have big projects in the pipeline in the Sydney Hills that can’t be actioned because of all the red tape at the hands of the State Government.

For example, a certain development requires that high voltage power lines be laid underground. The development can’t proceed until this is resolved. The only problem is that the Energy Minister doesn’t seem too interested. It is not a priority for Energy Australia, yet this clearly undermines their Metro Strategy.  It’s not a priority for them, and because of their monopoly position, there are no other options but to wait their convenience.

This is another example of Government incompetence. It increases costs to Council, cost of development, and cost of housing. Sadly, affordable housing seems to be an illusion. An illusion because of costs incurred by red tape.

 

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