Marginal seat voter survey analysis
SOS completed pre-election surveys in a number of marginal (Federal) electorates. The surveys were conducted by teams of interviewers. The aim was to identify issues of greatest concern to voters in the pre-election period, and analyse whether those issues were related to increasing urban densities.
Analysis of the survey results showed that concerns consistently nominated were (although not necessarily in the following order) traffic congestion, inadequate public transport, access to hospital treatment, creeping medium density housing, schools, rising crime and rising population densities.
Key issues identified on the Central Coast (Dobell and Robertson electorates) were rising crime (74%) and creeping Medium Density development (61%), with Traffic and Hospitals attracting adverse comment from more than 50% of respondents. Overall, well over 80% of Central Coast interviewees commented adversely on one or more issues relating to increasing urban density.
In Parramatta, creeping Medium Density development was the single most frequently nominated concern, at 65%, with Traffic at 57% and rising Crime and Hospital access rating over 50%. Overall, more than 75% of Parramatta interviewees commented adversely on one or more issues relating to rising urban density. A total of 890 people were interviewed across the three electorates, providing a good sized sample and remarkably consistent results. A quite consistent thread in many interviews was a willingness to offer a view that the problems were "because the Labor government in NSW isn't listening".
Although issues relating to rising urban densities should concern all levels of government, they are not principally Federal issues. The next State election is a little over a year away. Urgent action is now necessary to persuade the NSW Labor Government to recognise the need to review its policies of indiscriminately forcing increased urban housing densities.
All surveys were carried out over 26 - 28 October 2001.