Concerns have arisen in recent weeks over Maitland’s ability to service its growing population with a high quality, modern public transport system capable of keeping up with the region’s growth. Former Mayor Ray Fairweather contacted The Mercury with his views. Here we bring them to you.
I was pleased to read in the Maitland Mercury the comments of Maitland Mayor Loretta Baker on public transport in Maitland and its surrounds.
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As she pointed out, there needs to be works carried out immediately, especially on our local rail network that includes updating and restoring run down railway stations and additional car parks.
Several years ago I did make my own concerns known through the media about being prepared for the future of transport in the Lower Hunter and suggested this should be addressed by way of planning for the future.
Plan for the Future of the Hunter Valley: 2020 - 2050
What does the future hold for the Lower Hunter in the form of public transport?
Well, unless the five Lower Hunter Councils - Newcastle, Port Stephens, Lake Macquarie, Cessnock and Maitland – plan for the future as a team representing their local government areas, it will always be a disjointed effort.
They need to look outside their local government boundaries, have a vision for future generations on a modern transport system that includes a network of light rail as the most efficient and environmentally friendly form of travel.
An opportunity for those five councils to work as one identity is within their membership of Hunter Councils.
It would be possible for that organisation to establish a working party of professional people, including Hunter State MPs and federal members, to plan the future strategy for public transport in the Lower Hunter.
The first strategy should include planning of transport corridors and making sterile such land corridors for future development of light rail systems.
The plan should also include an investigation into the possible use of existing rail infrastructure as a starting point – then the possibility of opening up closed rail infrastructure. For example, the rail line to Cessnock and the many townships along that line. It also would provide a service to the fast expanding new residential townships like Gillieston Heights and Heddon Greta.
I envisage Kurri Kurri will be developed as a major commercial and residential area in the future, mainly due to its location near a freeway and the possibility of this giving the nearby Economic Development Zone the impetus to proceed at a faster pace.
The opening of the former Toronto rail link to light rail would have the same benefits.
Light Rail would be ideal to service the proposed and approved new town of Huntlee near Branxton with a population of 25,000. Then you have the approved expansion of Lochinvar with a forecast population increase of 25,000 people, and in the very near future the large residential development at Farley to the south west of Maitland.
The almost built out area of Aberglasslyn/Oakhampton in Maitland on the northern rail line has no rail station for their new 12,000 residents. The possible expansion of a light rail to the townships of Paterson and Dungog may provide the incentive to service Aberglasslyn by reopening of the former Oakhampton railway station.
There may be opportunity to provide a loop line to service Newcastle University, which would be a huge convenience for those university students who rely on public transport. It would give them more flexibility when it comes to obtaining accommodation in outer areas serviced by light rail.
Finally, those future rail corridors I mentioned earlier – they need to be identified to service the residents of Raymond Terrace and Newcastle Airport at Williamtown and eventually Port Stephens.
The five Lower Hunter Councils need to make this happen through Hunter Councils Inc. working with the state government to achieve a first class light rail transport network.
With a plan on the table you have the opportunity of gaining the support of the Federal Government to provide funding for a regional infrastructure project with a shared cost with the NSW Government
The NSW Government should give serious support to the forming of a working group to consider all transport options for the Lower Hunter and work closely with Hunter Councils Inc. including the funding of any investigation.
The possible source of funding could be from coal royalties collected by the NSW Government from the Hunter mining industry. The NSW Government should be prepared to fund projects from the sale of state assets including those assets in the Hunter.
A project of this magnitude will generate jobs for thousands of jobless people who are finding it difficult to find work in the Hunter.
