$1 billion worth of election promises get the green light after poles and wires legislation passed
DENICE BARNES, JUNE 09, 2015 8:47AM, CENTRAL COAST GOSFORD EXPRESS ADVOCATE
A $2.5 million seawall and channel study at The Entrance “will happen”.
The $1 billion worth of Central Coast election commitments will go ahead following the passing of legislation to lease 49 per cent of the state’s electricity network.
Central Coast Parliamentary Secretary Scot MacDonald said all the projects announced in the lead-up to the March state election would be honoured under Rebuilding NSW, despite four of the five Central Coast seats falling to Labor.
Funding for most of the commitments including $400 million for roadworks, $12 million for the performing arts centre at Gosford and $2.5 million for a seawall and channel study at The Entrance was contingent on the poles and wires deal getting the green light.
“It doesn’t matter who got elected, these things will happen,” Mr MacDonald said.
“We don’t have a definite timeline, but my job is to track and report on the rollout of our election ¬commitments.”
Mr MacDonald said the massive infrastructure projects that will now go ahead in Sydney will impact on the Central Coast.
“The Central Coast is in many ways tied to Sydney and addressing that congestion will flow to here,” he said.
“Unblocking Sydney will ultimately benefit the Central Coast.”
Mr MacDonald said the government was determined to make inroads on the Central Coast before the next state election.
“We have not given up on the Central Coast seats,” he said.
“We will be looking for good, credible candidates with a good history in the area and that people will identify with.”