The Shore Regional Organisation of Councils (SHOROC) is calling local candidates for the NSW Election to demonstrate how they plan to fix the transport problems of the Northern Beaches and North Shore regions.
Led by the Mayors of Manly, Mosman, Pittwater and Warringah, SHOROC is a partnership of councils that advocates and plans for the Northern Beaches and North Shore.
Transport and traffic congestion are the number one issue for SHOROC residents and numerous studies have shown they have the slowest and most congested major roads in Sydney.
The Pittwater/Spit/Military Road corridor is highlighted in the NSW Long Term Transport Master Plan as the most congested in Sydney, and the second slowest morning commute of the major corridors.
The Warringah Road corridor is already beyond capacity through Forestville and the rest of the corridor, particularly the Wakehurst Parkway and Forest Road intersections, will exceed peak demand capacity by 2016 without any action.
In addition, the percentage of local jobs filled by locals is dropping and congestion is making it worse, impacting local businesses meaning a loss of local jobs and pressure on future job creation.
“SHOROC is fully supportive of the $633 million Northern Beaches Transport Action Plan of road and public transport upgrades announced by the current government in 2014,” said Councillor Peter Abelson, SHOROC President and Mayor of Mosman.
“Our councils developed a regional transport plan and have worked collaboratively with our NSW MPs and the NSW Government to agree upon the priorities.”
“Now it’s time to start delivering.
“In the coming term of government our priorities are to see:
- A Fast and reliable Bus Rapid Transit system fully operational from Mona Vale to the city as well as from Dee Why to Chatswood.
- Warringah Road traffic freed up with $400 million in road works including major underpasses removing the Wakehurst Parkway and Forest Way chokepoints.
- Planning progress and funding allocated for a tunnel to link the northern beaches with the Warringah Freeway and bypass the Spit Bridge bottleneck in the next 10 years
- Works to upgrade Mona Vale Road to a dual-lane carriageway and to upgrade Wakehurst Parkway
- Priority investment in active transport infrastructure to encourage walking and cycling.
“The NSW Government’s current plan commits to the majority of the priorities identified by the councils through SHOROC in the regional strategy Shaping Our Future.
“It is now time to get it off the ground so the people of the northern beaches and Mosman can get moving and no longer sit in traffic gridlock.
“Seeing this plan to fruition will make an enormous difference for our region. Sustainable public transport and less congestion will benefit our economy, our community and our environment.
“We are looking forward to working with the NSW Government to deliver the road and public transport upgrades this precinct and the whole region needs.
“We call on all candidates for the upcoming NSW Election to commit to delivering this package of transport improvements in the coming term.”
SHOROC’s 2015 NSW Election Priorities policy details the major regional issues and solutions for NSW Government infrastructure and services for the 2015-19 term of government including public transport and roads; hospitals and health services; local employment and containment; funding for regional, environmental and recreational infrastructure; and strengthening the partnership for planning and services between SHOROC and NSW Government.
