Six of of the city’s prominent citizens have revealed their wishes for the city ahead of the community cabinet meeting on Monday.
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Transport, health, tourism and the environment cram the top of the list they want ministers to heed when they sit down at Maitland Town Hall.
Maitland young citizen of the year Andrew Marselos, 18, said The Levee project, which the state government granted a $10 million interest-subsidised loan, deserved more attention.
“The revitalisation of the mall is one of the biggest things we need,” he said. “It will bring tourists and residents into the city rather than going to Newcastle.”
Mr Marselos was recognised for co-ordinating youth activities, but felt a bigger issue needed attention.
“We need some help with the homeless youth,” he said. “You can get temporary accommodation and there are emergency places, but after one or two nights they’re back on the street.”
Maitland Regional Art Gallery director Joe Eisenberg said the city needed a museum.
“It should be the next thing we work towards in terms of culture,” he said. “We need a good historical museum that tells the story of Maitland.”
His other wish was for a dedicated storage facility.
“Our collection is worth well over $10 million now and we need to protect that,” he said. “It needs storage racks and airconditioning but we also need to think about flood contingency plans.”
Number one and two on Maitland Greens member John Brown’s list were rail-related.
“Rather than cutting it [the rail line at Wickham] they should be adding services to get people off the roads,” he said. “This is critical, particularly for Maitland and the number of people who want to use the service to get to their work and the beach.
“The second is for the state government to support covered coal train loads. They travel through a large section of Maitland [and] this is something that affects the health of a large number of people.”
Maitland Business Chamber president Steve Thomson said he would settle for recognition the area was pivotal in the government’s plans.
“For me there are two things. One is that the state government continues to recognise Maitland as the fastest growing area outside Western Sydney and with that recognition comes infrastructure support,” he said.
“The second would be that we turn a sod on the new Maitland hospital. “I know it’s in planning but I would hate for it to get stuck in a planning black hole.”
Labor candidate for Maitland Jenny Aitchison said residents had already made their wishes clear.
“One of my big things is a lift at Victoria Street train station [because] it’s one of the few stations you can actually buy a ticket at [from a person],” she said. “For some older people in particular, with mobility issues, that’s how they prefer to buy tickets.”
Ms Aitchison shared Mr Thomson’s urgency on the hospital but said the site was wrong.
“I’m really interested to know when work will actually start,” she said. “I want it in Maitland too but there are places closer to the Hunter Expressway.”
Mayor of Maitland Cr Peter Blackmore said he and council would discuss Hunter Expressway feeder roads, including Testers Hollow, in addition to fencing between Maitland Park and Les Darcy Drive.
“In 10 minutes you don’t get a great deal of time but I know [Roads Minister] Duncan Gay and as a long-standing member I know he’s dedicated to Parliament and will hopefully look at these roads coming into the city in Monday.”
