NSW Liberals abandon YIMBY truce as housing goes on the ballot
A year after declaring themselves unashamedly pro-development, Liberal MPs are revolting over high-density plans in their own backyards.
In the neighbouring seat of Lane Cove, veteran MP Anthony Roberts said the government’s planning policies would deliver a “sugar hit” of supply followed by an “awful crash” which would require significant taxpayer funds to remedy the lack of strategic planning.
“You can’t put in massive unit towers with little parking with the expectation people use public transport when there’s no public transport,” he said.
North Shore MP Felicity Wilson said development was the No.1 issue in her electorate, saying the government had shoehorned a 35 per cent increase in housing supply into one Mosman suburb without investing in infrastructure. Similarly, Hornsby MP James Wallace also criticised the proposed rezoning around the Cherrybrook Metro station, which is slated to deliver 10,000 homes.
“There is no plan. No transparency on what infrastructure is actually required. No accountability to ensure it is delivered,” he said.
The case against the government’s planning reforms comes a year after Speakman used a speech at a housing conference to define his party as being pro-development after an unconvincing attempt to straddle both sides. He acknowledged his support was largely driven by the party’s lack of appeal to younger voters, saying: “A way to reverse that, I think, is to be aggressively pro-housing.”
