CURRENT Member for Willoughby, Tim James, is standing again as the Liberal Candidate in the upcoming state election. However, despite Tim already being the Willoughby representative, this will be his first official state election.
Tim James has only been the Willoughby MP for twelve months.
He came to be the Liberal representative for Willoughby after the resignation of Gladys Berejiklian, who was not only the Member for Willoughby, but the Premier of NSW that carried us through the Covid-19 Pandemic.
There was evidently great pressure, as Tim put it, “to fill those big shoes of Gladys Berejiklian, as she worked hard and made a great difference to this area”.
Tim emphasised that “it takes real time and trust to gain the respect and support Gladys earned”. Normally, for a state MP, you have four years to deliver and earn your reputation, however, Tim has had to try to deliver four years of work in twelve months.
“I’d like to believe that I’m doing the job as well as I can”, Tim said, “and I still have lots to do and lots to learn”.
When The Post sat with Tim and listened to him discussing his experience as the Willoughby representative, we could truly feel his passion for his role. Tim said, “mark my words, I’ll never take it for granted”.
Tim has been immersed within the local community, knocking on doors, standing on street corners, setting up stalls within local markets and shopping centres, all to listen to community concerns and seek ways of addressing them.
“I genuinely love it,” Tim exclaimed, “to do this job well, you need to be immersed in your community, you’ve got to care.”
The key issues that Tim said that he has, and will continue to address are education, healthcare, green space, and transport.
“Education, I think it’s so important,” Tim stated.
Tim explained that he feels proud of how he has taken on board the construction project at Chatswood High School, where $250 million went into building new classrooms, science labs, music rooms and more.
He mentioned that looking into the future, he would like to add two more schools; one in Chatswood on the corner of Pacific Highway and Mowbray Road, and another in Gore Hill, St Leonards, next to the TAFE building.
Tim also emphasised how he has been listening to community concerns regarding possible uses of the empty sites that surrounds the Royal North Shore Hospital.
He said, “it should be for the health care needs of this community going forward, we want to ensure that the hospital can grow”.
Tim has great excitement and passion for the metro project, especially now that the lines are all laid and connected. He has a vision for creating more green space around the metro area, having already worked on projects in Crows Nest such as the Hume Street Park.
When discussing green space, The Post discussed with Tim the issues surrounding the culling of Cammeray Trees that took place to provide for the multiple approved and proposed projects in the area.
He understands that “it’s hard to watch what used to be beautiful parkland turn into worksites” and wants to reassure the community that “most of the site will be returned to the community as open public green space, the site has not gone forever”.
The Warringah Freeway Upgrade, the main project that has contributed to this issue, will add more lanes to the freeway, a bike lane, a bus lane, and a pedestrian lane to allow a safer and smoother flow of traffic.
“You get one chance to get these projects right, let us work towards that aim,” Tim said.
Another longstanding issue that is occurring, not just in Willoughby but in surrounding areas, is the transport delays and cancellations, specifically with buses.
The Post recently became aware of the Pirate Bus Charter that was funding by the public to assist locals travel from Willoughby to the City.
Tim responded to this move by saying, “with respect, chartering one bus costs about $400, and for it only to carry 25-30 passengers, it doesn’t stack up”.
Tim has been standing at bus stops for much of his time as the State MP; he has narrowed down this issue to being the result of limited bus drivers.
Busways, who run the Willoughby depot, are “really trying” as Tim states, to recruit more drivers and resolve these issues.
From what both Tim, and Busways have observed some of this chaos may stem from school students travelling on public buses, and not utilising the school charters that are available to them.
Tim has addressed this observation by sending notes to local school principals encouraging the students to utilise their school buses when possible.
Overall, Tim stated that “the best thing I can do is to be present, try to understand these issues, and discuss them with all powers that are involved.” He wants to “get every element fo the community being its best” and “will act on the issues that people share”.
