Issue 55 of Wyong Regional Chronicle

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September 26, 2014

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Issue 55

Council needs help to cope with projected population explosion W yong Shire will need to

accommodate more residents than any other local government area in the region with a projected growth of 28% by 2031.

The Shire is predicted to grow by 43,500 residents over the next 17 years, requiring nearly 1,200 new dwellings each year. Wyong Council mayor Cr Doug Eaton said this growth was one of the biggest challenges for council and the community. “Projected population figures have major implications for local planning, they show a vital need to roll out infrastructure and expand available resources to accommodate this many more residents,” said mayor Cr Eaton. “There’s no two ways about this, we need more houses, 20,000 in fact, many of these for our ageing population. “We will need to increase residential housing approvals by two or three fold and expedite affordable housing as well as build better roads to cope with the increased demand. “We can’t do this alone. “We need funding from

Crowds at a recent community festival in The Entrance

all levels of government for new infrastructure, facilities and services in the Wyong Shire. “The Wyong to Warnervale Link Rd is absolutely crucial and will make a huge difference to our ability to provide for growth, unlocking 8,500

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jobs and housing for 4,200 people. “Completion of the $45 million capital works project will open up the northern Shire suburbs, facilitate development of the Warnervale Town Centre and Business Precinct and improve

transport connections. “But it cannot go ahead without dedicated funding from the State Government and these latest population figures are proof that new infrastructure is necessary to cope with exponential growth,” said mayor Cr Eaton.

The proposed Link Rd will halve travel times between Wyong and Warnervale, stimulate development, create jobs and delay unavoidable upgrades to the Pacific Highway for 15-20 years. Compared with rates in Newcastle, the Lower

Hunter and Gosford, Wyong Shire represents 23% of all growth in the region, the highest proportion of growth in the greater region. Media release, 19 Sep 2014 Wyong Council media

the Wyong Shire


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