By Lilia Guan

Infrastructure shortages are hampering the growth of New South Wales, claimed Opposition Leader Barry O’Farrell at the Property Council of Australia's (NSW) Great Growth Debate, held this week in Sydney.

Mr O'Farrell remarked that if the Harbour Bridge were to be built in this modern day then “nothing would get done”, because it would be blocked by "the likes of  Clover Moore", Lord Mayor of Sydney and “Genia McCaffrey”, president of  the Australian Local Government Alliance.
 
Mr O’Farrell said to survive and thrive, the State needs to grow and local government must understand that growth is good.
 
“Without new people and new ideas communities miss out on economic opportunities and a richer social fabric that growth brings,” he said.
 
“It’s easy to use population growth and migration as the cause for Sydney’s infrastructure woes. I would go so far as to say it’s dangerous, when it’s the State Government that has failed to deliver proper infrastructure that communities deserve and need.”
 
Mr O’Farrell said if Sydney was to continue to provide the jobs and opportunities it had in the past, then it needs growth.
 
“Without it we loose those opportunities and the much needed revenues that State Government needs,” he said.
 
Mr O’Farrell outlined his five point plan to bring back revenue to the State.
 
The plan includes; restoring opportunity by rebuilding the NSW economy through lower taxes and business growth and fiscal discipline; returning quality services in areas such as health, transport, education and community safety; improving quality of life, by renovating economic and social infrastructure; valuing honesty in government, by restoring accountability and integrity and giving people a real say on issues that affect their lives; and giving people back the opportunity to shape their own neighbourhoods, protect local environments and return planning powers to the community.
 
“It’s about restoring quality of service and renovating the infrastructure and it’s about bringing back a strong bottom line to overcome those issues,” Mr O’Farrell said.

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