Councillors unanimously voted to approach the governments to improve the New England Highway and Cessnock Road at last night’s meeting.

Cr Robert Aitchison called the breakdown of Maitland’s road system in the wake of the super storm diabolical and said the city could not afford to have highways cut.

“We need to look at the raising of the New England Highway,” Cr Aitchison said.

“We have the new overpass, will this flood-proof Maitland?

“I don’t think it will.”

The overpass is part of the state government’s $45 million Maitland roundabouts project and its usefulness in times of flood has been called into question.

The council’s decision came off the back of a notice of motion from Cr Nicole Penfold to seek action on Testers Hollow on Cessnock Road.

Councillors said it was the gateway to the Hunter Expressway and the emergency route for many people when the highway was cut.

But conversation quickly turned to Maitland as a whole and councillors decided there were bigger issues than Testers Hollow.

On the recommendation of the general manager David Evans, the New England Highway was added to the motion and soon became the priority.

“We could have a wish list as long as your arm,” Cr Arch Humphery said.

“What we are asking for is a mammoth amount of money.

“The New England Highway can be cut with a minor amount of rain, it is almost a joke.

“We can justify it in every single way and tick every single box for the New England Highway.

“We should concentrate on that [instead of Testers Hollow].”

Cr Humphery, and several other councillors, said the loss of life on Cessnock Road was sad and preventable, but the highway needed to be the priority.

“As far as the economic impact, the closure of the New England Highway had a much greater impact than Testers Hollow,” Cr Bob Greoghan said.

“Another factor is the frequency of such an event.”

He said the state and federal governments should seriously consider flood proofing the highway.