BY DAKOTA TAIT
Public submissions have opened today on the new draft Hunter Regional Transport Plan.
The State Government's hoping to get the transport network up to scratch, with the region expected to grow by 100,000 people by 2041.
Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp says there are big ideas and hot-ticket items on the agenda.
"We've got the new ferry wharf at Wickham, which is finally getting a little bit of airplay here," he said. "I've been championing that for many, many years, so that would be a great boon, given the increasing population at Stockton and Fern Bay in particular."
"Secondly, the tram line corridor protections west to Broadmeadow and beyond are something I've also been calling on for many years. If we don't preserve that corridor for the light rail, there won't be a light rail heading west."
Across the broader Hunter, the plan also recommends looking into restoring train services to Cessnock and Kurri Kurri, as well as electrifying the line to Maitland.
Proposals such as high-speed rail, cycling initiatives, road and traffic improvements, and the currently-shelved Intercity fleet are all still on the table.
Mr Crakanthorp says he would like to see the ideas come to fruition.
"It's the timeframes that really concern me," he said. "Last time we had a report indicating there might be a ferry wharf at Wickham, they were talking about investigation over the next 15 years."
"It's only a couple of years later, and they're looking at the next ten years, so I'd like to see something happen a little bit quicker than that."
"With the corridor protection for light rail, that should have happened a long time ago. They're still just talking about it now and putting it into a draft plan. It should be happening now as we speak."
You can have your say on the plan here.
