State Labor Commits to Open Access to Wickham Park

BY OLIVIA DILLON

State Labor says it will help give residents better access to Wickham Park if it wins next month's election. 

Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp joined Shadow Minister for Transport Jo Haylen, and Great Lifestyle of Wickham spokesperson Lyn Kilby for the announcement this morning.

It says it will see the installation of gates and a path between the park and the end of Holland Street. 

Currently blocked-off by a fence, some residents wanting to access the park have to walk over a kilometre. 

Jo Haylen, said it's a common sense move. 

"It shouldn't be that hard to put in a gate and a fence, so that families and community can come together to walk their dogs and to be active. That's the kind of city we want in the future, and that's what Labor will deliver if we're elected next month," she said. 

Lyn Kilby says the area's growing population needs to be catered for. 

"The public domain is supposed to set up for pedestrians to have the lifestyle that's been promised by NSW planning and local government planning. At the moment, the planning is not accessible for all the people who have come here and bought all this real estate to make a life." 

 

Labor Promises New High School in Medowie

BY OLIVIA DILLON

State Labor has said it will build a public high school in Medowie if it wins the March state election. 

Land was set aside for the project on Ferodale Road forty years ago, but no government has followed through with plans since. 

However, Opposition Education Spokeswoman Prue Car has announced, a NSW Labor government would commit $53 million to the project, and would commence work on the project in the first term of government. 

The school would cater for up to 600 students initially and would be operational in four years.

Port Stephens MP Kate Washington, said it's something the community has been fighting for for generations.

"Medowie is a town of more than 10,000 people and growing. it has two independent high schools, but no public high school. The need has been there for a long time; everyone knows Medowie needs a public high school," she said. 

In response to the pledge, Education Minister Sarah Mitchell, said Labor's commitment won't be enough to build a brand new high school.  

However, Ms Washington, says it's about time a commitment was made. 

"If she wants to quibble about the dollars, she should be putting a high school in Medowie and telling us how much she will fund it. Her solution is to squeeze more kids into the high schools in Raymond Terrace. That is the cheapest and nastiest solution for the families of Raymond Terrace and Medowie," Ms Washington said.  

"The upcoming state election couldn't be clearer; if the families of Medowie want a public high school, they must vote for Labor, because only a Labor Government will deliver it."