Council, Labor Combine to Pledge Millions for Interchange

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

We've been hearing about it for more than two decades, now the first stage of the Glendale Transport Interchange could become a reality if state Labor is elected on March 23.

Hunter Labor MPs gathered in Glendale this morning to make the announcement, which will see Federal and State Labor pitch in $13 million each to build the long-awaited Pennant Street Bridge.

Another $6 million would come from Lake Macquarie Council to complete the $32 million tripartite funding package.

The interchange is touted to involve the extension of Pennant Street in Cardiff over the main northern railway line, connecting it to the intersection of Glendale and Stockland Drives.

The project has been on the drawing board since former Labor Premier, Bob Carr first promised to build it back in 1998.

After previously criticising her own party for failing to move forward on the project, Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery said the milestone marks one of the happiest days she's had in office. 

"For 12 years, I've been repeatedly bringing the notion of the importance of the Glendale Interchange to the NSW Parliament...it's the number one project in the Lower Hunter, without a doubt," Ms Hornery said, "so I'm kind of surprised and bemused at why the government is so negative when building the Pennant Street Bridge will see a cost-benefit ratio of $4 to $1." 

She said the bridge has the capacity to unlock development in Cardiff and relieve Munibung Road congestion for bus drivers. 

Lake Macquarie Mayor Kay Fraser agreed the bridge will lead to new opportunities for the LGA. 

"We're talking about 90 hectares of land that is developable, we're talking about a shopping centre, we're talking about a sports centre here at Glendale which will have that connection to our industrial area; to our retail and to our sports centre. 

"Cardiff people have been screaming for it...This will take the traffic off Lake Road and take the pressure off the Glendale roundabout.

Mayor Fraser admitted she's perplexed and disappointed the project has so far stalled, and says she'll be "knocking on doors" if Labor wins government to see the promise leads to tangible progress. 

Mayor Kay Fraser, Kate Washington MP, Labor Candidate for Lake Macquarie Jo Smith, Jodie Harrison MP, Sonia Hornery MP. 

Glendale Interchange Shakeup a "Surprise" to Piper, Hornery

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

The Pennant Street Bridge at Cardiff will no longer go ahead after the NSW government announced it's back to square one for Lake Macquarie Interchange designs.

In this week's state budget, $360,000 was allocated to the planning of the Interchange, despite previous talks dating back 20 years.

Lake Macquarie Council has predicted the benefits of the current designs exceeded the costs by four to one.

However Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter, Scot MacDonald said Transport NSW is disputing those projections.

"Transport and Infrastructure for NSW didn't agree that it was suitable, didn't agree it represents value for money for the tax payer...we're at the stage of preparing another business case," Mr MacDonald said.

"We didn't feel that [The Pennant Street Bridge] was the best design," he said, "it didn't achieve what we wanted to see in terms of activation of that area or protection for pedestrians...on a number of levels it just wasn't suitable."

However, the Parliamentary Secretary hasn't declared the project dead in the water.

"It's an ongoing process," he said, "and we're certainly not walking away from the idea that area would benefit from activation and better transport linkages."

The announcement has come as a shock to Lake Macquarie Council and the two MPs whose electorates border the Interchange.

Wallsend MP, Sonia Hornery listed the project as number 1 on her state budget wish list and says she wants to know where the justification for this design shake-up is coming from.

"It comes as a big surprise that all of a sudden the government have a different position on the Glendale Interchange," she said.

"All of us have been working very hard on this project which will ease some of the gridlock which is increasing between Glendale and Newcastle," she continued, "it's a project that 11 Hunter Mayors unanimously support as a top priority."

Sonia Hornery said she's "really disappointed" and believes the Hunter is being ignored by the Liberal National Government due to our high number of Labor-held seats.

Lake Macquarie Independent MP, Greg Piper is a little more optimistic.

He's still confident the Interchange will go ahead in years to come, citing the government's $360,000 investment into planning and a brief conversation with the Transport Minister this morning as reason to believe it'll be built one day.

"As Mayor at Lake Macquarie City Council, I saw the modelling for the work, I saw the opportunities this would bring about," Mr Piper said, "I would imagine if this government doesn't proceed with it at this stage, they may well proceed with something similar to it."

However, the MP can't confirm anything due to the "unusual" process by which he and Council found out about Scot MacDonald's comments.

"The Council and local members have become aware of some apparent change in thinking not through any formal channels but through a discussion between the Parliamentary Secretary and a Newcastle Herald journalist.

"It's a very unusual way to find out about change on a project that so many have been in involved in for so many years," he concluded.

Image: LakeMac Today.