Pittwater Life November 2023 Issue

Editorial
‘No need’ for upgrade: Minns
It doesn’t matter which side of
the political fence you stand,
NSW Premier Chris Minns’
reasoning for putting the
upgrade of the Western section
of Mona Vale Road on hold
doesn’t pass the pub test.
Asked on ABC Radio last
month about whether there
was a need to upgrade the
Western section, Mr Minns was
dismissive of the importance of
the road to our community.
“No, I don’t believe so,” he
said. “There is a case for road
upgrades right across Sydney...
it’s all about severity and we
are applying a needs-based
approach to infrastructure
spending, not on a marginalseats
or Labor-electorates
approach... and obviously those
communities that desperately
need the funds are where we
are investing them.”
Apparently it doesn’t matter
that the single lanes of road
heading east and west between
Kimbriki Tip and the Baha’i
Temple are piling up crash
statistics and full closures like
no other major road in Sydney
Mona Vale Road has been
closed for six hours at a time
twice in the past 12 weeks – at
the black spot now on hold.
There have been more than
10 serious accidents requiring
police and emergency vehicles.
Mr Minns should talk to the
users of the road about what
they think, as we did (see p12).
* * *
Remember when cafe owners
used to offer a small
discount on a takeaway coffee
if you brought your own ‘keep
cup’?
We do – but only just. Does it
even happen anymore?
We’d love to hear from
readers about their experiences;
and as reward we’ll give a shout
out to the local cafes who are
offering the ‘perk’.
Remember, every little bit
helps in the battle to reduce
landfill.
– Nigel Wall
The Local Voice Since 1991
NOVEMBER 2023 3