Newcastle Labor councillors have expressed their displeasure at rivals’ assertions ahead of next month’s NSW Local Government Elections.

Even though it’s only a month before residents head to the polls on Saturday 14 September, the battle for positions on City of Newcastle (CN) has begun in earnest.

Already, Our Newcastle, the Newcastle Greens and Newcastle Liberals have launched their respective crusades, with the latter indicating it will review council’s Development Control Plan (DCP) to address a perceived lack of parking, while axing the gas ban and accelerating new housing development in the LGA.

But, Labor believes their statements are way off the mark.

“It’s disappointing the Liberal councillors have started their election campaign with false claims and misleading policies,” Cr Elizabeth Adamczyk said.

“Newcastle Labor’s representatives are committed to a healthier and more liveable city, tackling cost of living with more accessible, affordable homes and less urban sprawl.

“Our leadership has ensured we are building more houses in our city more expediently… and more efficiently.

“In fact, CN’s approach is award-winning, with processing times for development assessment in the city falling to a record low (by an extraordinary 30% in the past two years) below the NSW average.

“Many applications were being approved in just seven days.

“Other NSW councils are now seeking to adopt this program to build more homes, more quickly, in their own LGAs.”

CN’s innovative Accelerated Development Application pathway fast-tracked more than 15% of the city’s $1.5 billion development pipeline during the 2022/23 financial year, helping to reduce the number of undetermined DAs by 35% since 2017.

Cr Adamczyk also stated controls for new development mandate on-street parking capacity did not adversely impact surrounding neighbours or visitors.

“Thousands of public and private spaces have been delivered under CN’s approach to parking, which, in line with the City Parking Plan, is developed with local businesses, community and stakeholders,” she said.

“The city’s future-fit planning controls to wire new homes for EV capacity, and power homes by electricity and avoid gas connections where possible, were supported by peak industry bodies and community, with hundreds of submissions received in support of these improvements to our homes.

“Gas connections are not only more expensive to install, and run, they are linked to a higher incidence of chronic diseases and respiratory illness like childhood asthma. 

“Labor councillors have a proven track record of working with residents to meet their needs and aspirations for healthier, lower cost living in our city.

“We’ve also led progressive change, with council and community, to resolve in this term to increase social housing in our city, and strengthen rights and protections for renters, to make a real difference during the current cost-of-living crisis. 

“Ironically, at the same time, Liberal councillors have consistently opposed measures to increase the supply, affordability and health of new homes.”

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