Mona Vale Village Park is being ravaged for an unnecessary B-Line bus stop. Former NSW Transport Minister and Premier Barry Unsworth says it is a stalking horse for high-rise development; warns Mona Vale citizens to take action now or suffer the fate of Canterbury. Ex-premier Barrie Unsworth: The B-Line is a Trojan Horse for More Development in Mona Vale March 22, 2017 4:23pm ON-LINE ARTICLE Robbie Patterson A FORMER premier and transport minister has criticised the incoming B-Line as a “Trojan horse” being used to allow more development in Mona Vale. Barrie Unsworth, who was Labor premier from 1986 to 1988, said a bus service in Mona Vale was the State Government’s way of justifying plans for six-storey developments in the area. Mr Unsworth spoke to about 50 protesters at a Save Mona Vale rally in Village Park yesterday. Just two days earlier, construction of a bus stop for the new service on Barrenjoey Rd commenced. The State Government also plans to put a commuter carpark on the opposite side of Barrenjoey Rd. Mr Unsworth pointed out that a place plan for Mona Vale had touted six-storey buildings in the area and he feared an elected Northern Beaches Council would approve it. “This is like the invasion of Normandy. These tractors are the invasion of Mona Vale,” he said. “The battle for Mona Vale starts today.” The group will stage another protest at Village Park on Saturday, from 10am. Pittwater state Liberal MP Rob Stokes emphatically denied that the B-Line plans had anything to do with increasing density. “This is all about trying to get the best buses,” Mr Stokes said. “To say that this is about a secret plan to increase density in Mona Vale is demonstrably false and has absolutely nothing to do with the place plan advanced by the former Pittwater council.” Save Mona Vale member Phil Walker said the group still hoped the State Government would consider rescinding its plans for a B-Line stop in Mona Vale but conceded it was unlikely. Another member, John Illingsworth, said the solution to the area’s traffic congestion could be found elsewhere. “The problem is not at Mona Vale, nor is the solution,” he said. Residents have argued that there has been a lack of community consultation and they were not informed works were starting. A spokesman for the B-Line team said: “Information about the start of work at Mona Vale was delivered over 500 homes and businesses around Village Park, published on the B-Line website and promoted on signage around our work areas". “Local community groups were also notified". “We will continue to update the local community as work progresses.” Download Manly Daily Printed Article 23 March 2017
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