Pittwater Life July 2024 Issue

Budget blues for Pittwater
News
NSW Treasurer Daniel
Mookhey’s 2024 State
Budget has snubbed
Pittwater, ignoring local
infrastructure and upgrade
requirements and instead
injecting massive funding
into Western Sydney.
The Minns NSW
Government’s second budget,
delivered in June, again
turned a blind eye to the
partially completed Mona Vale
Road precinct upgrade, with
the 2-kilometre Western Stage
of the road set to remain in
one-way limbo indefinitely.
And according to local MP
Rory Amon, Government
policy will now see Pittwater’s
annual land tax liability
increase from $95 million in
2023 to around $156 million
in 2024.
In his budget response,
Mr Amon slammed the
Government for its failure
to once again fund the $340
million Mona Vale Road West
upgrade – despite committing
$62.9 billion to transport
infrastructure in Western
Sydney and beyond.
He warned that safety
issues would remain as
long as the stretch of road
remained single-lane each
way, as well as traffic
bottlenecks for motorists to
and from the electorate.
“It’s essential the Mona
Vale Road West upgrade is
completed,” Mr Amon said.
“Delivery drivers, tradies,
tourists and visitors are
impacted by the lack of
foresight to complete the Mona
Vale Road dual carriageway.
“Peak hours are a
ONE-WAY LIMBO: The incomplete upgrade of Mona Vale Road – West.
nightmare, but it’s also
unsafe. Labor’s refusal to
undertake a safety audit
of the road and implement
measures while we await
an upgrade makes the
government’s position all the
worse.
“And, when the next crash
sadly occurs, the Government
will be culpable for any loss
of life, injury, and ensuing
traffic chaos.”
Mr Amon said the
Government needed to
develop the understanding
and the foresight to deliver
smooth-flowing, timeefficient
and economic traffic
flow along the full length of
Mona Vale Road.
“Despite more than 16,5000
signatories to our upgrade
Mona Vale Road petition, the
Government doesn’t care and
is failing to hear – or take any
notice – of the calls from our
community and beyond,” he
said.
“I will continue demanding
the upgrade of Mona Vale
Road West for the benefit of
residents and all those who use
this important regional link.”
On land taxes, Mr
Amon said that based on
Government data, Pittwater
land taxpayers would pay an
average of $50,000 by 2028 –
up from $30,000 in 2023.
“This will increase rents
and cost of living pressures
on renters and landlords,” he
warned.
“As well as land taxes,
Pittwater pays over $200
million in payroll tax and
stamp duty. At the same
time as increasing our taxes,
Labor has cut funding for
Pittwater.”
Mr Amon detailed his
pre-budget submission to the
Government, which he said
prioritised the needs of the
community.
In addition to a request for
full funding for the Mona
Vale Road West upgrade, the
submission included a call to
“hurry up” Northern Beaches
Council on its flood mitigation
works on the Wakehurst
Parkway, increased funding
for domestic violence support
services including the
Women’s Resilience Centre,
increased funding for youth
mental health services at
Northern Beaches Hospital,
the restoration of more than
$500,000 in local school
resource funding, funding
for a much-needed pre-school
at Terrey Hills, renal dialysis
units at Mona Vale Hospital
and more funding for Surf
Club upgrades at North Narrabeen
and Newport.
In a positive, he said the
Government had allocated
$48 million towards the
Staying Home Leaving
Violence program to assist
women and children escape
domestic violence.
Opposition leader Mark
Speakman echoed Mr Amon’s
criticism, saying the State
Budget delivered more
deficits, higher taxes and less
investment while ignoring the
cost-of-living crisis.
He said despite the
Government’s taxes bringing
in record revenues, NSW
was facing more real cuts to
overall health, education and
infrastructure spending and
a long line of deficits.
– Nigel Wall
*What do you think? Tell us at
readers@pittwaterlife.com.au
24 JULY 2024
The Local Voice Since 1991