Among the announcements made by the state government for Newcastle transport yesterday, was thirty affordable home units to be built on a section of the former rail corridor.
The housing would cater for low to middle income earners such as emergency service workers and teachers, but Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp believes while it will help them, it simply isn't enough to meet the city's housing needs.
Buying a first home is becoming more and more difficult, and the MP says even the government admitted thirty isn't enough.
"It's never been harder to buy your own home and this government has had six long years to address housing affordability. Thirty units is a drop in the ocean to address the crisis to date. The government has admitted that it is not enough and with the city growing rapidly we really need to see the rest of the plan."
Tim Crakanthorp also said while the government want to make cities better, they're not making it easier for people to live in them. Instead they're forcing first home buyers to buy outside of the city due to rising house prices and the limited number of housing available in the city.
Parking is a constant battle in the city and with around 280 spots set to go in the city centre when construction begins on the light rail, Tim Crakanthorp says the parking problem won't just stop there.
"The government still needs to reveal where commuters will be able to park at the interchange, unless they're right on the line, I don't think the number of people they're projecting will be going on it,"
"Good public transport needs to be safe and close and accessible and we need to expand this light rail if we want to get this kind of accessibility".
