Wickham in for Growing Pains

BY MATT JOHNSTON

Newcastle Independents candidate for Ward 1, John Church, says Wickham's got a bustling future ahead of it. There are currently 18 projects which are underway or in the pipeline for the suburb, and the potential influx of new residents has existing ones worried.

“I have been consulting with local residents who want to see progress but who are genuinely concerned about parking, increased traffic in already narrow streets and the lack of public space," said Mr Church.

Mr Church says the Wickham Master Plan, which was launched earlier this year, needs serious funding and commitment to help the suburb effectively manage the growing pains. "The master plan creates a pathway forward but needs funding."

"We believe enacting the Wickham Master Plan, by spending DA Section 94 contributions, is an effective way to get the Mast Plan underway. Otherwise, we'll get left behind."

The funding, Mr Church says, doesn't have to be re-spent in Wickham under existing arrangements. But he believes "Wickham is a special case" which needs careful management to prevent overcrowding and over-use of services.

Newcastle Ward 1 Candidate John Church

Greens Question the Benefit of Light Rail

BY KIMBERLEY NICOLL

The NSW Greens have requested for Newcastle's light rail project to be investigated.

An auditor-general report found the Sydney CBD light rail heralded multiple problems.

The Sydney project cost about an extra $500 000 to construct, mainly due to incorrect pricing and omissions in the business case.

The Greens transport spokesperson Mehreen Faruqui says she believes there are similarities between the two light rails.

"The report was pretty clear saying there was poor planning, ... mismanagement, and that the community was actually misled on that project... What I suspect is that similar issues are also quite apparent in the Newcastle light rail."

Source: ABC

The Newcastle community, experts, and business owners have repeatedly made vocal their concerns for the project.

However, the government have still continued their planning without the acceptance of local citizens.

Mehreen Faruqui says that their concerns, "have fallen on deaf ears".



The Greens wish for the NSW auditor-general to assess the Newcastle light rail project so that a comprehensive assessment can be legitimised.

They believe this will then provide the Newcastle community with the actual cost and benefit of the new transportation.