It's one of the city's most talked about issues, but a former mayor believes a solution to Maitland's traffic problem isn't related to roads.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Ray Fairweather believes a way to fix ongoing congestion issues on Maitland's roads is by providing better rail infrastructure and services.
He said the NSW Government had recognised Maitland as a major growth area but had not provided the transport infrastructure to cater for that.
"It all seems to be happening in Sydney, and of late, in Newcastle," he said. "We need to encourage more people to use rail and the only way to do that is to provide good infrastructure and services. We need good stations, regular trains and modern trains so it's convenient for the public.
We've got to get vehicles off the road as much as possible.
- Ray Fairweather
Mr Fairweather, who served on Maitland Council for 35 years, pointed to major growth in the west, particularly Ravensfield at Farley and Lochinvar, where 313 more residential lots have just been approved, as an example of why alternatives to driving were needed.
"We've got to get vehicles off the road as much as possible," he said. "Congestion is not just happening at the [train station] roundabout."
Mr Fairweather made a submission to the NSW State Planning Authority about 18 months ago with a pitch for a new rail system in the Hunter. The former Labor mayor said he wasn't blaming the Liberals as the issue has been going on since before they were elected.
He said he received "quite an encouraging response" and was also upbeat about the establishment of a Greater Newcastle Metropolitan Plan last year, which includes Maitland, Cessnock, Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Port Stephens councils.
"Maitland's growth is now spilling over into Cessnock," he said. "We have to be thinking across boundaries."
In response to questions about the Lower Hunter rail network, Transport for NSW said it was "committed to giving customers in regional areas more flexibility, greater choice, and better connections for public transport".
A spokesperson said Transport for NSW had improved travel between Dungog and Newcastle by adjusting departure and arrival times for some weekday journeys and that extra daily return services between Singleton and Newcastle were also on the way.
"Improvements like these will encourage more people to leave the car at home and catch public transport instead."
Sage Swinton
Sage Swinton is a news reporter who was born and bred in the Hunter. She has been with the Newcastle Herald since June 2020, and covers Newcastle council as well as other general news.
Sage Swinton is a news reporter who was born and bred in the Hunter. She has been with the Newcastle Herald since June 2020, and covers Newcastle council as well as other general news.
