Mr Robertson said Labor would give back $750 million – or half the net proceeds from the lease of the Port of Newcastle – to the Hunter should it win the March 2015 election.

The $750 million would go into the Hunter Infrastructure Investment Fund, with the $340 million allocated for truncating the rail line to go into new projects.

Ms Aitchison said the announcement would be good for Maitland residents.

“It’s a fabulous thing for the people of Maitland,” she said.

“It would be a chance for us to do some real infrastructure development instead of ripping up existing assets.

“I will be putting forward suggestions to the Opposition Leader’s office about what policy we want here and I’m really looking forward to increasing expenditure and the share of that money for Maitland.”

Ms Aitchison believed it was too early to say how the money would be spent specifically but did say it would be spent strategically and coherently.

“When I speak to people a lot of things keep coming up,” she said.

“The lifts at Victoria Street station for example, improving the highway west of Maitland, also rail projects like more stations west of the city.

“All of those are very much in mind, we will have to put a lot of things forward and from there it will be a case of prioritising.”

Maitland MP Robyn Parker said the Baird Liberal government had already established the Hunter Infrastructure and Investment Fund and provided $350 million in infrastructure funding to projects in the Hunter since March 2011.

“I have worked hard for the Maitland electorate to secure the infrastructure funding that Maitland needs and deserves and I will continue to make sure that Maitland receives its fair share of the NSW infrastructure funding pie,” she said.

In question time yesterday, Premier Mike Baird attacked Mr Robertson’s promise, saying the Opposition Leader was against the sale of the Newcastle Port earlier this year.

“Back in April, Mr Robertson said that Labor was against the sale of the Newcastle Port, he said we are absolutely and utterly against this lease – we are not for it in any way,” he said.

“He went on to say the Premier must explain to the people of the Hunter why the full proceeds are not remaining in their hands.

“Now Mr Robertson is saying that a Labor government would commit half of the proceeds from the sale of the Port to Hunter Projects.

“For heaven’s sake how can anyone in this state know what on earth this bloke is on about.”