Glendore Public School Has Fast-tracked Fence

BY MEGHAN RICHARDSON

Construction on a much needed security fence for Glendore Public School has been fast tracked after an announcement in Parliament yesterday.

The Maryland school has suffered numerous break ins over the years due to the lack of a fence.

Minister for Education, Sarah Mitchell announced the fence would be constructed during the 2019/2020 financial year.

Ms Mitchell said the government planned to fast-track construction due to 'ongoing' issues caused by break-ins.

The break-ins had caused significant damage to the school with a quarter of a million dollars worth of property damage.

After years of lobbying for a security fence, Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery says the new fence will mean peace of mind and security for parents and students.

"The Glendore community was fed up with the number of break ins that had occured," Ms Hornery said. "The fence for Glendore public means a lot more safety and security and some piece of mind for the teachers, students, and Glendore community."

She did, however, criticise the government for their delay in building the fence.

"When you're talking about up to $250 000 worth of damage that occurred, its natural that the parents will wonder why the government hadn't been quicker."

Ms Hornery said her colleague Anthony D'Adam had the opportunity to put the question to Minister Sarah Mitchell in the Legislative Council on Thursday.

Ms Hornery met with Sarah Mitchell after question time to confirm the details for construction.

Image Source: Newcastle Herald 

Wallsend MP: Roads Not Ready for Hospital Upgrade

BY  KAYNE STEPHENS

Plans for the $780 million expansion of the John Hunter Hospital have been unveiled, but the local MP is warning nearby roads won't be able to cope unless the final stage of the Newcastle Inner City Bypass is completed before the upgrades.

The major expansion upgrades are due to finish by 2026 under the master plan, which includes overhauling the existing buildings, as well as the construction of new research and education facilities.

The Member for Wallsend, Sonia Hornery, has welcomed the plans, saying they are vital for meeting the growing needs of the region.

"Planning for the future growth of the health needs of the Lower Hunter is vitally important. We have emergency departments overflowing, waiting lists for appointments with specialists and surgery blowing out, full staff car parks, a congested internal road network and external roads surrounding the precinct at breaking point,” Sonia Hornery said.

However, the MP says more collaboration is needed between the State's Roads and Health departments so the infrastructure can cope with the hospital's growth.

"I am writing today to both the Minister for Transport and Minister for Roads, and as well to the Minister for Health, to say that we welcome the announcement but we want to fix the transport woes, and expedite the Inner City Bypass before we even think about any further construction," she said.

The master plan, which will raise the capacity for staff and patients at the hospital, include the construction of new research and education facilities, as the site meets the growth demands of the Hunter region.

Last week a fatal accident on Lookout Road caused traffic chaos near the Hospital's entrance.

The MP has asked for the final stage of the final stage of the Newcastle Inner-City Bypass, which will link with the new entrance of the hospital, to be constructed before the upgrades are completed in early-2026.

"The Newcastle Inner-City Bypass is still two years away from a sod being turned. Now the bypass must be fast-tracked before we look at any development on the John Hunter site".

Sonia Hornery says there are number of issues to address before the upgrades proceed.

"Access to transport and access to public transport, looking at reinstating a shuttle service so people can get to and from the hospital without having to go through the gridlock of the road network. We really need to be solving a few problems before we even think about construction," she said.

The Wallsend MP has written to and will seek a meeting with key government Ministers to ask for the local road network to be prepared for the hospital upgrade.

The $780 million upgrade plan will include a new main entrance, linking with the final stage of the Newcastle Inner-City Bypass

Crime Spree Sparks call for Increased Police force in Wallsend area

By Isabel Everett


A State MP is calling for an increase in local police officers and in police resources following a recent crime wave sweeping through Wallsend and other neighboring suburbs.

Residents of Wallsend, Maryland, Fletcher and Elermore Vale have experienced multiple car break-ins, theft of valuables, a boat and garbage bins set on fire during the recent crime spree.

Wallsend MP, Sonia Hornery says the limited number of officers in the area and on duty during night time hours means response times are often lengthy.

"When we have problems like what we've had again in Maryland, Fletcher and Elermore Vale over the last few days, and the limited number of police that are on patrol in the evening, it's impossible for them to get from one end of town to these areas in time to respond to the crime," Mrs Hornery said.

Concern has be raised that the limited number of police in the area is creating an ideal environment for criminals.

"Wallsend needs a dedicated police station. We also need more police in the area, particularly more police patrols in the evening. In this case crooks know that they can get away with it before the police are going to arrive to catch them," Mrs Hornery said.

"That is certainly not the fault of the police because they are doing the best job they can."


Source: NBN News

Crime Spree Sparks Calls for Wallsend Police Station

BY GEMMA FERGUSON

Local MP, Sonia Hornery, is calling for a permanent Police presence in Wallsend following recent crime sprees in her electorate.

It comes after Newcastle Police were involved in a number of incidents last week.

In less than 24 hours between last Thursday afternoon and Friday morning patrolling officers made five arrests in Wallsend alone.

Sonia Hornery believes police response times would be greatly improved by providing a permanent base nearby, with the closest station currently Waratah.

"Residents are fed up, the crime waves are continuing and criminals know that there are very few, if any, Police in the area during the night," said Ms Hornery.

"I have never seen it so bad."

This is not the first time the Wallsend MP has pleaded with parliament for more police resources.

In February this year, 201 Police cadets graduated from Goulburn.

88% of the new officers were stationed in Sydney and the rest of the state shared the remaining 12%.

Of that, zero new officers came to the Hunter region.

"Local Police are doing everything they can but they simply don't have the feet on the ground to be able to spend enough time in the western suburbs to catch these criminals," Sonia added.

State Government Urged to Fund Park and Ride as Council Grants Reprieve

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery is calling on the state government to continue funding Newcastle's Park and Ride bus service.

Last Thursday, council CEO Jeremy Bath was shocked to read in an article from The Newcastle Herald that state funding for the service would likely finish at the end of March despite positive talks between council and the government.

The NSW government was expected to formally advise council of its decision by last Friday but is yet to do so, leading to a decision from council to step in and cover the costs until the end of April.

City of Newcastle has agreed to underwrite the service for the month of April while it undertakes a detailed cost analysis of the operation, but Sonia Hornery says the burden shouldn't fall on local government.

"Really it's a state government responsibility and it should be funded by the state government for the people who live in the western suburbs," said Ms Hornery.

"I urge them to have some courage, consider the needs of the people of the western suburbs of Newcastle and continue to fund the popular Park and Ride system."

The service won't run on Friday, March 29th due to the Super Rugby match at McDonald Jones Stadium but will operate as usual from Monday.

Image: The Herald

 

Combating Low Staff Numbers at John Hunter Hospital

BY: ARIANA GATTI

With low numbers of nurses available to assist patients, the John Hunter Hospital is in the spotlight this week as in need of an increase in employees.

A Notice of Motion has been lodged asking the National Minister of Health to address understaffing issues, in order to improve the quality of care and eventual recoveries of patients being admitted and treated at the hospital.

The NSW Nurses and Midwives Association have come forward to report that patients have missed out on at least 7,000 hours of nursing care in total, due to the lack of staff available to provide the services.

The Association is asking for the number of staff to increase, to meet a necessary standard and quota of at least one nurse to three patients to operate in emergency departments, paediatric wards and critical care units.

The campaign also includes advocating for an improvement of staff ratios within mental health and rehabilitation units, as well as for newborn baby care in maternity wards to be added to the list.

Member for Wallsend, Sonia Hornery, says upping the staff numbers now will help care for the future success of the hospital.

"The quality of care suffers because the nurses are run off their feet, and we all acknowledge how hard our nurses work".

"We will continue to write questions and continue to raise this matter in Parliament and I'm hopeful that the Minister for Health and the NSW Premier listen to my concerns, and the concerns of the NSW Nurses Association", she says.

Image sourced: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-03-06/the-entrance-to-newcastle27s-john-hunter-hospital.jpg/4555156

Newcastle Touted as Future Home for Matildas

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

Wallsend MP, Sonia Hornery would like to see the Australian women's football team call Newcastle Home.

She's issued a push for the NSW Minister for Sport to present McDonald Jones Stadium as the Matilda's home base.

It follows a successful match between the Australian and Brazilian women's teams at the venue last September.

Ms Hornery described the atmosphere at the game as electric.

"Ninety minutes, ninety emotions, you could see it on each one of the 16, 829 fans' faces," she said, "They roared, they cheered, they held their breaths, they counted every second.

"It was an extraordinary sense of community that Tuesday night."

The MP raised the idea in parliament today, with other state members agreeing Novocastrians have a proud history of supporting teams, as well as a thriving local sport scene.

Camden MP Chris Patterson highlighted plans to develop new sports precinct at Broadmeadow as a vote of confidence in the Hunter's potential to host future world-class events. 

He said Ms Hornery has the government's support in bringing as many Matilda's games as possible to the region.

What a night: Close to 17,000 fans turned out to support the Matilda's at Hunter Stadium in September. 

Emergency Services Minister Attends Wallsend Fire Station Opening Amid Sonia Hornery Concerns

BY MADELAINE MCNEIL

Emergency Services Minister Troy Grant attended the official opening of Wallsend's new fire station this morning, but Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery remains disappointed with his decision to sell the original building.

Grant was joined at the new Summerhill Road premises by Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot Macdonald and representatives from Fire and Rescue NSW, but Sonia Hornery was not invited despite her strong advocacy for the new facilities.

Ms Hornery accused Mr Grant of "playing politics" with emergency services after he failed to respond to her requests to leave the original fire station in public hands.

Sonia Hornery had asked the Minister to keep the original Devon Street premises public in order to provide a space for use by community groups such as Blue Gum Hills Men's Shed, but the property was listed for sale earlier this week.

Troy Grant responded to Ms Hornery's accusations, telling 2NURFM News that he wasn't aware Ms Hornery wasn't invited to today's event until this morning.

"It was certainly not political," said Mr Grant.

"I know how immensely proud she is and it's all credit to her that the (new) fire station is now up and running."

The new Wallsend Fire Station. Picture: Facebook.

Keolis Apologises for School Bus No-Show

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

Newcastle Transport Provider, Keolis Downer has apologised to parents and students at Wallsend's Callaghan College after a school bus failed to pick-up students yesterday afternoon.

The 870 School Service was scheduled for a 3:37pm arrival at the College, but for reasons unknown didn't arrive.

Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery said her office fielded several calls from frustrated parents yesterday afternoon who were forced to leave work early to pick-up their children, while one student had to walk 6km home to Shortland.

According to Ms Hornery, some parents complained to Keolis Downer via telephone and were told they'd receive a response in 7 to 10 days.

She says it's just one example of a bus system which has been failing since it was privitised- "This takeover and privitisation of the public transport network in Newcastle has been a complete and utter failure," Ms Hornery said.

"The Minister [for Transport Andrew Constance] should grab his coat and head for the door."

She's waiting on a response from the office of Andrew Constance, after having written several letters to him 3 weeks ago.

In a statement given to 2NURFM News, Keolis Downer's Hunter General Manager Mark Dunlop said he contacted the Callaghan College Vice Principal personally to apologise to all impacted as soon as the failure came to light.

He says they're working hard to understand the root of the problem so that it doesn't happen again.

"Keolis Downer is committed to providing the best possible services to the people of Newcastle and eastern Lake Macquarie and accepts it has not delivered on this occasion."

Callaghan College at Wallsend.