Lucy Wicks (Robertson, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to congratulate the Daily Telegraph and the Central Coast Express Advocate on their campaign for a better future for the Central Coast. In doing so, I commend Gosford City Council, the New South Wales state government and the federal government on their commitment to the Central Coast. I also recognise John Singleton and Monique Marks from the Central Coast Taskforce for their strong passion, advocacy and drive to see more infrastructure and better services for the people in our community.

Since being elected last year, I have talked to thousands of people who all tell me they want to see the Central Coast not only as a region of opportunity, particularly local job opportunities, but also as a region of excellence in all fields. Since my family moved to Point Clare in 1985, I have always loved this region. That is why I am fighting every day to help deliver the coalition's growth plan for the Central Coast, so that we have more opportunity tomorrow in our region than we have today.

Our growth plan includes our commitment to deliver 600 new jobs for Gosford in a purpose-built Commonwealth centre of excellence by 2017. These 600 jobs will have a significant multiplier effect of hundreds more jobs that will boost Gosford, known as the capital city of the Central Coast, and its impact will be felt right across the Central Coast region.

We have also committed $7 million for a learning hub in Kibble Plex in an old shopping centre complex that I used to visit as a teenager. We are investing in roads including the M1-M2 missing link. We are getting on with rolling out the NBN faster and working to ensure that we have the important infrastructure that our area needs.