Labor councillors on the Central Coast have been exposed for their hypocrisy after celebrating a University of Newcastle student accommodation project they twice voted to block.
Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch said the announcement of a 127-bed student accommodation facility in Gosford is a major step forward for the region, but one that Labor Councillors actively tried to prevent.
“It is again the same old story from Labor, no vision, no leadership, and always ready to stand in the way of progress,” Mr Crouch said.
“Labor councillors Kyle MacGregor, Sharon Walsh, Helen Crowley and Margot Castles, along with so-called independent Councillors Corinne Lamont and Jane Smith, all voted against this project not once, but twice.”
Mr Crouch said it was astonishing to now see some of those same councillors turning up to celebrate the announcement.
“It is absolute hypocrisy to actively work and advocate against such a transformational project and then turn up for the photo when it goes ahead in spite of them,” he said.
“It’s poor decision making like this that that threatens opportunity, growth and investment in the future of our region.”
The student accommodation project builds on the success of the University’s’ new Gosford campus, a major investment delivered thanks to funding from the former Liberal-National Government in partnership with the University of Newcastle.
Mr Crouch said the accommodation is a critical next step in delivering a genuine education precinct for Gosford and unlocking the city’s potential.
“This project will provide accommodation for students, bring life back into Gosford, and support local businesses, which is exactly the urban renewal required for Gosford,” he said.
“For too long, our young people have had to travel to Newcastle or Sydney to live and study, but with this new campus and student accommodation project, they can study and build their future right here.”