Tweed Shire Councillor Katie Milne
Tweed Shire Council is facing a $300 million shortfall in its future road network. The ‘system is breaking down as the cost of arterial roads substantially exceeds the contributions that are, and will be, collected,’ according to council’s recent submission to the NSW review of the planning system.
I have called for a report on the cost of the Cobaki Lakes road infrastructure and was horrified to find the developer was only paying $49 million of the $93 million worth of the roads required for his development.
Roads come in twos or fours, but a developer only pays for what he uses. For example if a developer needs the equivalent of 2½ lanes for his residents then a 4 lane road would be needed and Tweed Shire residents pick up the rest of the bill for the other 1½ lanes for his development.
Despite my three failed attempts to get any of the current councillors to investigate these developer shortfalls, I hope a new council will be more interested in one of the most important issues for council’s future financial viability and rate rises.
