The state government has denied plans for a new railway station for the Lower Hunter, despite reference to such an initiative in a list of deferred transport projects.
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A Transport for NSW document obtained by Labor under freedom of information law lists “Lower Hunter – Additional Station” and “station upgrades” on run-down of 170 Transport Access Program projects that have been marked “deferred”.
While improvements to facilities at Victoria Street station in East Maitland have long been touted – a Transport for NSW spokesperson told Fairfax Media work on that project had begun – there have long been calls for another train station in Maitland’s booming western or eastern suburbs.
But on Tuesday, Transport Minister Andrew Constance denied plans for a new station in the Lower Hunter and accused Labor of lying to “scare vulnerable commuters”.
“We are considering upgrades to stations across the state, and projects listed as ‘deferred’ have never been publicly announced, and are being assessed in consultation with stakeholders and customers,” he said.
“Labor should realise you can’t defer something that hasn’t been announced. We make no apologies for assessing all possible upgrades at train stations to improve access for customers with low or limited mobility.”
Maitland MP Jenny Aitchison said Mr Constance should clarify what “Lower Hunter – Additional Station”, which appears in the deferred project list, meant.
“It seems the Baird Government’s plan for rail transport in Maitland after their disastrous rail truncation is to keep quiet and hope for the best,” Ms Aitchison said.
“The residents of Maitland are paying for blowouts of multi-million dollar harbor side wharves while our local community needs are ignored.”
There have previously been calls for a new railway station west of Maitland, to improve public transport in booming suburbs such as Rutherford, Aberglasslyn and Lochinvar, as well as suburbs in Maitland’s east, like Chisholm and Ashtonfield.
Questions have also been raised about the need for a station near the proposed Lower Hunter Hospital at Metford.
A Transport for NSW spokesperson said the Transport Access Program had 450 projects completed or underway across the state since 2012.
Nick Bielby
Nick Bielby is a crime reporter who has been with the Newcastle Herald since 2017.
Nick Bielby is a crime reporter who has been with the Newcastle Herald since 2017.
