People living in Flinders Street, East Maitland and Gillies Street, Rutherford, refuse to back down on their opposition to Housing NSW’s plans, which they say will result in loss of privacy and increased traffic.

The projects are among 16 Housing NSW developments across the city, being built under the Federal Government’s stimulus package.

Pam Rodwell, of Flinders Street, East Maitland said the biggest concern was the affect on the streetscape.

“When you consider the precedent is set in Flinders Street for single storey seniors housing, why now go to double storey?” she said.

She was among residents who met Maitland MP Frank Terenzini about the issue this week.

Mr Terenzini said he was planning onsite visits for the residents to demonstrate their concerns “directly to the people involved in the planning and design process”.

“I am, indeed, very supportive of these

residents and have met with the Minister for Housing on numerous occasions to put their case and to seek to have the residents’ concerns addressed,” he told the Mercury in a statement.

“We are continuing to work through the issues and there will be further meetings on my visit to Parliament next week.

“It is crucially important that the concerns of the residents are fully heard by the relevant officers of Housing NSW who are responsible for the designs of these projects.”

Nation Building Plan co-ordinator for Housing NSW Paul Bevers told the Mercury last week that $44 million would be spent on modernising social housing in Maitland to meet a shortage of rental accommodation and bolster the building industry in time for Christmas.

“We know there’s concern about two-storey developments, and we will ensure there will be minimum overlooking of neighbouring properties,” he said.