Since being elected as your State Member for Wakehurst, my focus has remained simple: listening to our community, standing up for local residents and businesses and pushing for smart solutions that continue to make the Northern Beaches the best place to live.
Northern Beaches Hospital transfers to public ownership
Northern Beaches Hospital transitioned into public hands in April, and I’m excited to see conditions improve for staff and patients alike. I’m proud that, as promised, private services will continue. Better still, public services will expand.
Our community will once again have a truly public hospital, with NSW Health publishing the full Clinical Services Plan outlining a clear expansion of services for local patients. Importantly, private services will be retained in line with a full Level 5 hospital, ensuring patients have choice, while strengthening access to high-quality public care.
Under public management, Northern Beaches Hospital will see more staff, better conditions, expanded services for public patients in particular, and stronger integration between hospital and local community health services.
I am particularly excited to see:
- More Junior Medical Officers and better nurse to-patient ratios, roles that were chronically understaffed by Healthscope;
- Interventional cardiology services for public patients, previously unavailable;
- A new clot-busting thrombolysis service for timely stroke treatment; and
- Upgrading of the Mental Health Short Stay Unit, with more single rooms and improved privacy and safety for adults and adolescents.
Premier’s visit to Wakehurst
Last month I took the Premier through some of Wakehurst’s key sites, including the old and new Forest High schools, Northern Beaches Hospital and Belrose’s County Road Reserve (which desperately needs an upgrade). The Premier spoke with local bus drivers, nurses and police about how tough it is to recruit and retain staff given the lack of affordable housing and reliable public transport on the Northern Beaches, and representatives from Wakehurst FC about their desired upgrades for County Road Reserve.
Over 1,200 students through TAFE NSW’s Education Pathways Program
Do you know about the TAFE Education Pathways Program for public high school students? Don’t worry, neither did I! But last year, some parents spoke enthusiastically about this innovative program being piloted in other
parts of the state. After investigating and getting agreement from local high school principals, I lobbied the Department of Education to have this TAFE program piloted across the Beaches.
The program complements existing careers education through the provision of additional resources, including two key roles: Head Teachers Careers and School-based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (SBAT) Engagement Officers. I am so pleased over 1,200 Northern Beaches students have already benefited. Thanks to the parents who brought this to my attention. I am pushing hard to ensure this successful pilot program is made permanent.
Wakehurst Parkway upgrades commence
$85 million of upgrade works have commenced on the Wakehurst Parkway. Finally! The Transport for NSW works will:
- Widen Wakehurst Parkway in key spots and add turning lanes at busy intersections;
- Redesign problem intersections to improve visibility for drivers and pedestrians;
- Undertake flooding works along Dreadnought Road to Oxford Falls Road.
Additionally, three sites are being investigated as part of the $31 million Wakehurst Parkway Flood Mitigation Program, being led by Northern Beaches Council. These flood mitigation projects are at different planning stages, but progress is being made across them all.
Liberal and Labor vote together to oppose greater bushfire protections in Planning System
It was disappointing that both major parties voted against my Bushfire Protection Bill. This bill was about protecting lives, homes and firefighters by ensuring the NSW Rural Fire Service retains strong powers to oppose unsafe rezonings for new homes on bushfire-prone land. The bill was backed by the NSW RFS Association, the Bushfire Protection Association and eight former Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners from the RFS and Fire and Rescue NSW.
I brought this bill because I am deeply concerned that current planning reforms and policy changes, backed by both Labor and the Opposition, are set to weaken the role of bushfire expertise in planning decisions, particularly around proposals like the Patyegarang/Lizard Rock subdivision in Belrose. The Lizard Rock subdivision has only been stopped so far, because the Department of Planning hasn’t been able to steamroll the expert advice of the RFS. That authority is under threat. My bill was about preserving it. The Liberals voted against it, supported by the Labor government.
I am not anti-housing, far from it. I support housing growth in locations with appropriate infrastructure and lower natural hazard risk. But putting new homes in areas vulnerable to catastrophic bushfire is just reckless and wrong. The Patyegarang/Lizard Rock planning proposal remains unresolved, with the RFS holding out on giving approval. The Minister said publicly in 2023 the proposal would only proceed with RFS endorsement. I am watching this like a hawk and holding the Minister to that commitment.
Delivering 37 Social and Affordable Homes
The former Queenscliff Health Centre is being transformed into 37 new social and affordable homes, with doors expected to open by Christmas, and priority given to older women.
This has been a long time coming, starting with a Mayoral Minute when I was Mayor of Warringah Council. I pushed for the site to be used for affordable housing instead of being sold off by the State government. A huge thanks to Andrew McAnulty, his team at Link Wentworth and everyone who stuck with this project, proof that quality, well-located affordable housing can be delivered on the Northern Beaches.
It is a privilege to serve our community in Parliament. I am proud of what we have achieved, but there is still more to do. If my team and I can be of assistance to you, your family or business, we would be delighted to help in any way we can.
More From Michael Regan MP
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You can reach Michael at the Wakehurst Electorate Office by phone on 9981 1111 or via email: wakehurst@parliament.nsw.gov.au
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