A bypass of Maitland’s bypass, a fourth crossing of the Hunter River and a new railway station for the city’s booming western suburbs may all sound pie in the sky, too big a wishlist and way out of reach.
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It could be said that these grandiose ideas for our city are almost laughable, particularly at a time when we are in a Labor seat under a Liberal umbrella and just weeks after we became the beneficiaries of a $45 million overpass.
Be that as it may, we must be realistic, look to the future and what is best for our next generation.
Maitland is without doubt a boom town and it doesn’t look like there is any immediate end in sight to our unprecedented residential growth. It would be irresponsible of our civic leaders to turn their backs on the next generation and the future development of the city.
The release of the Hunter Regional Plan 2036 sets out the framework for future growth and sustainable development in the Hunter Region over the next 20 years.
The plan recognises that Maitland will play a major role in providing for this growth and that the provision of infrastructure will be essential to the achievement of this growth.
Planning Minister Rob Stokes recently announced details of the plan, a “blueprint” to guide development in the region for the next two decades. It aims to create and support thriving urban, rural and coastal communities across the Hunter and Maitland plays a vital role.
That role has not gone unrecognised by Maitland council, which will submit a wishlist to include in that document.
Our council will call for a southern bypass of the city. A highway linking Farley with Thornton Industrial Estate.
Council will also bid for a fourth river crossing to let our city continue to perform during times of flood when some communities may become isolated. Horseshoe Bend has been flagged as a preferred location.
With the main growth in the city’s west, calls have gone out for a new railway station near Aberglasslyn.
In a surprising bipartisan approach, independent mayor Peter Blackmore and Labor councillor Henry Meskauskas have put their political differences aside both agreeing the three infrastructure proposals need to be pushed. In a time of dirty politics it is heartening to see two key players unite and drive what is best for this city’s future.
