The Liberal Member for Davidson, Jonathan O’Dea speaking in Parliament yesterday said he could not believe the Government would put extra housing development on the North Shore ahead of education and sporting facilities.
“The UTS site at Lindfield should be retained primarily as an educational resource. It would be hypocritical of Labor to permit anything else,” Mr O’Dea said.
“The NSW Government is putting the almighty dollar ahead of education and sporting facilities in promoting extra new residential development. Where will the new local educational and sporting infrastructure come from in the next 20 years?”
“NSW Labor is acting in a revolting way on education rather than leading an education revolution. While the Coalition has been fighting for better educational resources in northern Sydney, the Government unduly panders to developers, denying our children vital facilities.
“Public schools on the North Shore are over crowded and could use the UTS site. This would also allow for retention of desperately needed local sporting facilities.”
“Childhood obesity is an issue and the loss of the UTS sporting oval would be a huge loss for young people of all ages who are struggling to regularly play cricket or soccer because of the shortage of sporting facilities on the North Shore.
“The Iemma Government has shown Labor to be hypocritical on education, particularly in light of recent words from Kevin Rudd. The UTS site controversy follows recent Labor closures of Beacon Hill High and Seaforth TAFE in northern Sydney.
“New or expanded schools, more sporting facilities, improved public transport and health facilities are part of the new infrastructure needed to cater for the larger populations being planned for in northern Sydney over the next 25 years.”
For further information, please call Jonathan O’Dea on 0418 241 500.
