Pittwater Life February 2023 Issue

News
‘Let’s do it again at state level’
Climate action and environmental
Park, is set to deliver thousands of jobs
protection are likely to be two of the
and generate over $1 billion for the
most hotly contested issues in Pittwater
in the upcoming NSW Election, according
to Independent for Pittwater candidate
Jacqui Scruby.
“They were certainly deciding factors
for voters in Pittwater in last year’s
Federal election,” Ms Scruby said. “Local
frustration at reluctant policy concessions
and lip service rather than action
from the Morrison Coalition government
was a major factor behind the election
of community independent Dr Sophie
Scamps.”
Ms Scruby said the community now
had the chance to do it all again at a
State level, adding she believed locals
wanted a member of parliament with
vision for a sustainable and liveable
Pittwater, Sydney and NSW, who was
economy,” she said.
“But most importantly NSW must seize
the economic benefits of becoming a
renewable superpower. In the short term,
we should be following Queensland’s
lead and tackle NSW’s $20 billion debt by
securing more royalties from coal companies
making windfall profits.
“We should be transitioning coal-dependent
areas like the Hunter Valley into
renewable energy industrial precincts,
and developing and manufacturing carbon
smart technology using our supply
of critical minerals, to set ourselves up
for a bright future.”
She said policies to encourage low-cost
electrification for businesses, homes, including
rental properties, and transport
would cut emissions and reduce power
grounded in practicality and sound
bills.
ENVIRONMENTAL FOCUS: Jacqui Scruby.
economic reasoning.
“NSW needs to take the lead of corporate
Scruby, a former environmental lawyer,
management consultant and policy
advisor to Dr Scamps, continued: “We
all love living here in large part because
of Pittwater’s beautiful natural environment
which we want to conserve. But it
doesn’t end there – we’re not NIMBYs,
and what we want for Pittwater, we want
for our state.
“Locals don’t want to see the PEP-11
permit for drilling for oil and gas off the
coast of Pittwater risking our beaches
and, by the same token, they also don’t
want the 26 new coal and gas projects
that have been approved by the NSW
Coalition Government since the Paris
Agreement.
“It’s incompatible for the NSW government
to be transitioning the state to renewable
energy whilst at the same time
times NSW’s annual emissions.
“The community is currently fighting
the changes to conservation zones
to residential in the Local Environment
Plan and potential commercialisation of
Barrenjoey Headland.
“They also are outraged that taxpayer
money to the tune of $13m/pa is being
used to subsidise native forest logging,
reducing our crucial carbon stores and
killing our iconic koalas.”
Ms Scruby said Victoria and WA had already
committed to ending native forest
logging and there was pressure on NSW
to do the same, particularly following
the devastating reports on biodiversity
loss, including the inevitable extinction
of the koala by 2050 if NSW didn’t take
action.
“The alternative plan, to use the native
Australia and better manage climate
risk. We need to plan coherently at all
levels of government for the impacts of
climate change.
“In Pittwater we need flood mitigation
for our major roads, better NSW Government
management of climate adaptation,
particularly for coastal erosion to avoid
sea walls and protect homes and businesses
from the increased insurances
currently being faced by residents in
Narrabeen. It will end up costing us more
if we don’t take action now.
“Of course, there are critical State
issues from schools to health care to
infrastructure that Pittwater needs
addressing as well, but the people of
Pittwater want representation on all this
and more. They deserve a representative
that reflects their values and embraces
approving projects that will generate 34 forests to create Great Koala National the future.”
– Nigel Wall
16 FEBRUARY 2023
The Local Voice Since 1991