Residents To Meet With State MPs Over Landslip

 BY CHARLIE PROUDLOCK

Charlestown MP Jodie Harrison and Minister for Recovery Janelle Saffin will meet with residents affected by the New Lambton landslip next week. 

It comes after the state government's Reconstruction Authority (RA) announced will provide up to a year's rental assistance to residents displaced in the natural disaster in May last year.

Newcastle council wrote to the RA last month, insisting they responsibility for the incident which left 16 homes uninhabitable. 

Before, tensions between Council and the state were escalating, due to the RA initially relinquishing the remediation responsibilities to the City of Newcastle. 

An authoritative, peer-reviewed geotechnical report changed the department's mind, after it provided definitive evidence the incident was due to natural phenomena.

The announcement of extra rental assistance couldn't have come at a better time for affected residents, as they were only initially given until June for their support payments.

Jodie Harrison said she's happy with the latest development and is hopeful next week's meeting can alleviate any other issues currently suffered by residents.

"I'm really pleased we've been able to provide additional support for residents at a time of uncertainty for them," she said.

"What I want to make sure, as their local MP, is make sure I do everything I possibly can to reduce the uncertainty now and into the future."

Minister Harrison went further to state she's happy affected residents get to directly engage with both herself and Minister Saffin over the matter.

"Minister Saffin is very keen to listen to each of the residents who are affected," she said.

"I'll certainly be taking into account, listening to what they have to say and I'll advocate on their behalf in the future."

Taken from when the landslip was first noticed in May. Credit: NSW Police

Inquiry Focuses on Lake Macquarie Public Housing

BY JARROD MELMETH

The plight of tenants who have reported appalling conditions in public housing across Lake Macquarie was the focus of a Parliamentary Inquiry into the Management of NSW Public Housing Maintenance.

Occupants are reporting an alarming number of instances of black mould infestations, leaking roofs, rotten carpets and broken doors and windows.

Member for Charlestown Jodie Harrison has told the inquiry that complaints about public housing maintenance took up more than 50 percent of the Charlestown Electorate offices work.

"Fundamentally the system is broken. It is non-responsive to peoples concerns and we are not getting the best return on our assets.

"The age of public housing stock and a failure to maintain these properties is one of the underlying problems.

"In Windale we have houses that were built in the 50s & 60s and they have not been maintained to an adequate level and many of these homes are now simply falling apart.

"Everyone deserves safe and secure housing, and it has got to be safe from a security point of view and from a health point of view," Ms Harrison said.

Ms Harrison suggested annual inspections as a way for the government to stay on top of maintenance.

"We need inspections that create maintenance requests not to just tick boxes," Ms Harrison said.

Source: Outlook planning and development.

Labor Says Roads Funding Re-Announced In The Hunter

BY IAN CROUCH

The state government has been caught out re-announcing funding for a roads commitment made in the Hunter 4 years ago.

The Berejiklian government has announced $12 million will be spent to ease traffic congestion at two pinch points on the Pacific Highway at Northcott Drive, Adamstown Heights and Kahibah Road at Highfields.

However, Charlestown MP, Jodie Harrison says it's an exact repeat of a commitment made by former Premier Mike Baird in 2015 and there's not been a single shovel on site at either of these locations in 4 years.

Labor Member for Charlestown Jodie Harrison

MP Claims Newcastle Buses Being Used As Private Taxis

BY IAN CROUCH

Hunter Labor Mps are stepping up pressure on the state government to conduct a review of the Newcastle bus network amid claims buses are being used as private taxis.

Charlestown Mp, Jodie Harrison has told parliament a bus due at Broadmeadow Station on February 23 never arrived, leaving two commuters stranded.

She said a bus marked "not in service" was used to take the pair to their destination at Redhead.

Jodi Harrison says she receives calls from constituents daily about buses running late.

It comes after Keolis Downer this week reported a 5 per cent increase in patronage in January.

Charlestown Mp Jodie Harrison