Health Facilities

Over the last 10 years Sydney recieved $880 per head and we received just $458. I believe western Lake Macquarie needs a major health facility to supplement Toronto's Polyclinic, currently the only facility between John Hunter and Wyong hospitals.

We need to start planning now for a major facility that initially provides outpatients, casuality and outreach services and then keeps pace with the needs of the area's population growth.

Transport

Over the last 10 years Sydney received $1,895 per head and the Hunter received just $495.

Public transport in our region doesn't meet our needs. The routes and timetables don't encourage patronage.

We need the NSW Government to make public transport a serious option for our area by investing in a more efficient rail and bus network and by working with and drawing on the capacity of the private sector.

Regional transport studies have shown the need for the Glendale Transport Interchange. Sydney Labor has plans which exclude the much needed rail-bridge allowing for thousands of users. They don't take our regional public transport seriously.

Education

Over the last 10 years Sydney received $545 per person and we received just $236. Our Year 12 retention rates are more than 10 percent lower than the state average. Why? We need properly equipped schools for our growing population.

Police

Lake Macquarie has less than half the police per head of population than other area commands in the state.

The Lake Macquarie Area Command, with 186 officers, has less than one officer per thousand people campared to a state average of 2.18. Our police are stretched to provide their service to a large population spread over a large area.

To make matters worse our police are required to make use of sub-standard facilities. We need more police and we need them properly equipped.

Roads

The Five Islands road upgrade at Teralba, while welcome, was long overdue and has only moved the problems of congestion.
This is particularly bad to the south where the section of Main Road 217 from Fennel Bay to Toronto has been ignored for years.

The RTA has had this section on hold for too long and it must be addressed quickly to cope not only with today's traffic but with the impact of rapid growth to the south.

Environment

Our environment underpins our quality of life. Population growth planned by the State Government must only come with proper environmental safegaurds.

This includes not only shared funding for environmental projects but also protection from the impacts of long-wall mining currently threatening the Central Coast.