Three Illawarra leaders revealed their state and federal election wish list for their regions.
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Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery, Kiama Mayor Mark Honey and Shoalhaven councillor John Wells gathered at Shellharbour Civic Centre for a joint regional council meeting on Friday.
Cr Bradbery said he wanted the state government to allocate money for infrastructure in the West Dapto and Calderwood developments to accommodate the 50,000 people who will live there by 2050.
“We are establishing a city the size of Wagga but there is nowhere near the spend required to support that massive urban land release,” he said.
The Lord Mayor also wants more money spent on improving the South Coast rail line and commuter times from the Illawarra to Sydney.
“Twenty thousand people commute out of Wollongong every day and we want more of those people on trains,” he said. “It is a constraint on Mount Ousley and M1.”
Another “vital piece of infrastructure” Cr Bradbery wants to see funded is the Maldon to Dombarton rail line.
“They would be my highest priorities. There are probably many more, but I think the people of Wollongong would be very happy with those and they have implications for the neighbouring councils as well.”
Cr Honey said he would like to see Cr Bradbery’s transport priorities achieved because it would improve the lives for residents of Kiama.
“Locally, we need money for an arts centre in Kiama,” he said. “Whoever can find the money for that has my vote.
“There are strategies and plans which develop a vision for the next 20 years for each area in the state. I would like to see that vision worked out but we must maintain the character of what we have got at the moment.
“I don’t want to see population or development targets. I want to see us maintain the character and beauty of the places that make people come down and love us to death.”
Cr Wells said Shoalhaven’s regional priorities included the Albion Park Bypass, the completion of the Berry to Bomaderry road link and the third crossing of the Shoalhaven Bridge.
Cr Wells wants to see the region capitalise on the tourism growth that comes with better connectivity to Sydney.
“Also, for $100 million to $110 million, the state government can shave 20 minutes off the trip between Central and Wollongong stations with rail line improvements,” he said.
“My third priority is upgrading the train line south of Kiama to Bomaderry.
“For me, the priorities are transport, transport, transport, connectivity, links and wealth growth.”
