Monday 26 June 2017

The closer light rail construction comes, the more worried businesses get.

BY JESSICA ROUSE

There are renewed concerns for Hunter Street businesses as light rail construction looms in the Newcastle CBD.

Sections of Hunter Street will start to be closed off in September when work begins which is when most businesses say they're worried they'll feel the pinch.

Newcastle isn't the first city to go through the business upset with the plight mirroring some retailers on George Street in Sydney which has been a construction zone for around two years.

The government say they're prepared to adapt their plans if things go awry, but MP Tim Crakanthorp says even then a lot of small businesses just won't be able to survive.

Image www.newcastlenow.org.au
With up to 1,000 car parks disappearing and essentially one lane of traffic being taken away as well, Tim Crakanthorp just can't see it working for everyone.

"I think if you can stick it out for that period of time and only perhaps the bigger businesses can do that, there will be benefits at the end of it but then again they're also deeply concerned about the parking."

On the other hand, Program Director of Revitalising Newcastle Michael Cassel says they're doing as much as they can to ensure businesses don't lose out.

"We're doing a lot with businesses, we've employed precinct managers, we're working very hard to make sure businesses thrive through this period. We've got lots of activities, we're bringing more people back to the city during that period of disruption and we will pop out the other end with a much-improved transport system."