Newcastle Bus Woes Go To Parliament

BY IAN CROUCH

Newcastle MP, Tim Crackanthorp says the city's privatised bus network has failed the most vulnerable members of the community.

He used question time in parliament to raise the plight of more than 100 disabled people who work for Access Industries and have been severely impacted by changes to the bus timetables.

Tim Crackanthorp asked Transport Minister, Andrew Constance to now admit the privatised network has failed the people of the Hunter.

The Minister rejected suggestions services for disabled people had been cut and said he was happy to meet with the Newcastle MP to hear his concerns.

Newcastle MP, Tim Crackenthorp

RTBU Members Vote to Proceed With Strike

BY JESSICA ROUSE AND LAUREN FREEMANTLE

UPDATE 2:15pm:

In an overwhelming decision, members of the Rail, Tram and Bus Union have voted to proceed with industrial action on Monday.

Just 5.93% of union members wanted to suspend the strike.

They'll stop work for 24 hours on January 29, leaving Hunter and Sydney commuters without any passenger train services.

While 2900 services are usually in operation across the Sydney CBD on weekdays, tomorrow they'll only run 1600 as rail workers refuse to work overtime hours.

For Hunter commuters, it means they'll have access to rail services operating on a Saturday frequency from Thursday through to Monday when the total stoppage occurs.

Meanwhile, the state government has lodged proceedings with Fair Work Australia in a bid to prevent Monday's strike, and a private Sydney law firm is suing the Union for economic loss as their employees will struggle to get to work.

A screen grab depicts tomorrow's timetable disruptions on the Newcastle to Central line. Head to Transport Info NSW for all the latest updates. 

EARLIER:

NSW rail workers are expected to decide today whether or not they'll continue with planned industrial action.

Rail Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) members will decide by lunchtime if the offer from Sydney and NSW Trains management is good enough to cancel a ban on overtime tomorrow, but at this stage a 24 hour strike planned for next Monday is definitely going ahead.

It's understood if the industrial action does happen, the Hunter line will be working to a Saturday timetable tomorrow and possibly every day until a deal is struck, and there will be no passenger trains next Monday, January 29.

With workers not doing overtime the network could be plunged into chaos; the RTBU says the railway can't run without workers working overtime because rescources have been run down so significantly.

The offer being put forward to all 6,000 union members is a 2.75 per cent pay increase each year for three years; it also includes travel entitlements and a $1,000 cash payment if the offer is accepted.

Apart from the money side of the offer, a range of items were also put on the table to deal with working conditions, roster conditions and redeployment options in the event of a privitisation of the network.

"Obviously we've been trying to get people to listen to us and our concerns for six months, so it was great to have that breakthrough yesterday in relation to that [working conditions]," said RTBU Secretary Alex Claassens.

He added that it's never been about the money for him, it's been about the working conditions. But in the end, for the members, it does come down to money.

Workers received a text message overnight asking for a YES or NO response on the offer and planned industrial action.

Alex Claassens said it's important the workers get this opportunity to look over the offer and decide for themselves whether it is good enough, and whether it warrants putting the planned industrial action on hold.

"It's disappointing that we're in this position. The Transport minister has unfortunately let it get to this. Finally, we've got an offer that we can put to members to look at, but it's got to be noted that the Minister has been dragged kicking and screaming to this point," said Alex Claassens.

"He didn't want to be a part of it and now he has to deal with the reluctance and unfortunately we've been crying for help for a long time and nobody was listening. We've had to carry this railway on overtime.

"We all like a little bit of overtime, but eventually you get so tired that you cannot function properly and we work in a safe railway and we need to make sure we don't have tired people out there on our railway because that's when accidents happen," said Alex Claassens.

Constance Tells Union Bosses To "Go Back To Sleep" At Newcastle Transport Interchange Official Opening

BY IAN CROUCH

NSW Transport Minister, Andrew Constance has taken a swipe at union bosses during today's official opening of the Newcastle Transport Interchange.

The $200 million transport hub will be the focal point of public transport into and out of Newcastle, with around a thousand train services a day connecting commuters to Maitland, the Hunter Valley and the Central Coast and Sydney.

The route 110 shuttle bus will take commuters into the city from Stewart Avenue while work continues on planning approval for a coach interchange on the site of The Store in Hunter Street.

Construction of Newcastle's Light Rail project is under way and is on schedule to begin running from the new interchange in 2019.

On Friday, officials from the Rail Tram and Bus Union staged a small protest outside the interchange calling for Andrew Constance to step down over the underpayment of bus drivers and missing or cancelled services by Newcastle's private transport operator, Keolis Downer.

The minister said the company needed to be given a "fair go" to allow them to "bed-in" the new network and that the government will work through any issues which have arisen.

Today, union secretary, Alex Claassens described the interchange as a waste of taxpayer's money by essentially re-opening the Wickham Train Station which was closed three years ago.

Andrew Constance dismissed the criticism.

"The union bosses should just go back to sleep. Seriously, they call for my resignation every day of the week. I love it. They have nothing to contribute, they're rent seekers and (they should) just go back to sleep," he said.

Parliamentary Secretary For The Hunter Scot MacDonald and Transport Minister Constance At Today's Official Opening

Two New Bus Services for Singleton

BY DANIELLE RIES

An announcement by the Minister for Transport Andrew Constance today is the first step in the right direction to improving public transport in Singleton.

The council is pleased the government has listened to their calls for two new inbound and outbound bus services will run between Singleton and Maitland.

These services will run twice in the morning and twice in the afternoon, with it making stops at Branxton, Greta and Lochinvar before arriving at its destination of Maitland train station.

Singleton Mayor Sue Moore

This is a great opportunity for residents to show their support by using the services in hopes of reaching their prospects of getting a train station at Singleton.

Singleton Mayor Sue Moore says the bus services will be beneficial to the community.

"The community was very pleased to have a better connection. Ultimately they would have liked to have two more trains which has been the ongoing request for a number of years, but to have a more direct bus service rather than a service that stops 43 times certainly made much more sense".

She also says these services will commence next week.

"Bus services will commence on Monday and it will be 7 days a week, so it will carry forward on Saturdays and Sundays as well. That'll allow students and people to get to medical appointments and Tafe and educational purposes in the lower Hunter much easier than they currently are".

Bus drivers underpaid under new transport boss

BY IAN CROUCH and JESSICA ROUSE

Things haven't gone as smoothly for Newcastle bus drivers since the city's public transport was taken over by Keolis Downer last month.

Drivers say they're being underpaid hundreds of dollars, leaving them out of pocket with the prospect of more payment delays.

Port Stephens MP Kate Washington quizzed the transport minister on the issue in parliament yesterday, asking if the underpayment was an example of what he meant by greater efficiencies under privatisation.

It sounds like everyone knows and are trying to rectify the problem - Transport Minister Andrew Constance says the company told him they're aware of the issue and are working to fix it as soon as possible.

Transport Minister makes big announcements for Newcastle

BY RACHEL STORER

The Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Andrew Constance was today in Newcastle to join the Minister for Planning, Anthony Roberts and Parliamentary Secretary, Scot MacDonald for a press conference regarding the revitalisation of the city.

Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Andrew Constance.

Mr Constance made two announcements today: the first about the Newcastle light rail and the second about "The Store" site on Hunter Street.

Newcastle will be home to an exciting Australian first - wire-free light rail.

"This is technology tried and tested overseas in places like France. The energy for the vehicle will be stored onboard and there will be charge points at the stations," Mr Constance said.

"It means Hunter Street won't have any overhead wiring and that will add to the aesthetic value of the Hunter Street precinct."

Mr Constance followed this with the announcement that the "The Store" site on Hunter Street is being taken to market, gathering expressions of interest on how best to use the space.

The state government bought the site in 2015 and has remained practically silent on its plans until now.

"My expectations are to look for the best use but also incorporate a bus and coach interchange, coupled with some commercial opportunities which will, of course, interface incredibly well with the new Wickham interchange," Mr Constance said.

"We'll see the old, run-down car park being removed along with some of the dilapidated, old buildings and that will enable us to progress with the new precinct."

Mr Constance said he was very excited and pleased to be able to make these announcements today.

Affordable housing for former rail corridor

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The state government has unveiled plans to use part of the former rail corridor in Newcastle for public use, and specifically for affordable housing.

Minister for Planning and Housing Anthony Roberts was joined by Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance in Newcastle this morning to make the announcement.

NSW Government program Revitalising Newcastle put forward the plan which would see 30 homes built between Mereweather Street and the former Civic Station, for low to middle income earners.

The proposal allows for one, two and three-bedroom family affordable homes for moderate income workers from emergency services, to youth workers.

Anthony Roberts says it gives hard workers a go and gives those, "on low to moderate incomes a leg up and helps them to work towards their housing goals, be it home ownership or ongoing private rental".

The concept was put to the council's Building Better Cities (BBC) Committee to use $3 million dollars allocated by the government some time ago and put it towards something extremely beneficial.

At this stage, the housing proposal project will be funded through pooling of government resources by combining Hunter Development Corporation and the Newcastle City Council's affordable housing funding, which is waiting on approval from council, which should be decided at the next general meeting.

"Newcastle isn't going to be the place it was 10 years ago. Newcastle is moving towards a new and vibrant city. A city with professionals, trades people, and different types of individuals," said Anthony Roberts.

"We're already seeing the reformation of Newcastle, we're already seeing it rake great bold new steps  from where it was a decade ago and there's a lot more to do."

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot Macdonald also joined the ministers for the announcement this morning, and is in full support of the plan which he believes will create more diversity within the city centre.

He says, "from my perspective it's delivering on what Minister Stokes said we were going to do last year (when the rail corridor was closed), that it was gonig to be a mix of private, public and green space and this very much delivers".

Mike Baird quits politics

BY GARY-JON LYSAGHT

Mike Baird and Andrew Constance in Newcastle in December. [Picture: Simone De Peak/The Herald]

State Transport minister Andrew Constance has named in the running to succeed Premier Mike Baird after he announced his resignation on Thursday morning.

Mr Baird made the announcement, citing the current health of his close family members, and being content with what his government has achieved as the main reasons for retirement.

“I said many times I didn’t want to become a career politician; I wanted to go as hard as I could for as long as I could, and then step aside,” he said.

During a press conference on Thursday, Mr Baird listed what he considered were the main achievements of the Liberal party since it entered government in 2011.

Being the first state to sign up to the Gonski needs-based school funding was singled out as particularly important for “getting our kids set up” regardless of where they came from.

Particular emphasis was also put on the changes to transport, including the Newcastle light rail, which Mr Baird said would drastically change the landscape of the city.

Mr Baird became Premier in 2014, after former Premier, Barry O’Farrell was forced to resign over political gifts.

Mr Baird said he entered politics to get stuff done, and he now believes he has.

“When I set out on the journey I was frustrated on why New South Wales was behind the rest of the country,” he said.

“I was frustrated that nothing ever got built, and I wanted to make a difference.

“As I look on that now I strongly believe that we have.  We have made a difference.”

The Liberal Party will meet to elect a new Premier and deputy Liberal leader next week, with Treasurer Gladys Berejiklian and Transport minister Andrew Constance on the shortlist to succeed Mr Baird.

Mike Baird when he announced his retirement on Thursday [Picture:ABC]

Mr Constance was heavily involved in the construction of the Newcastle light rail.

In April, Mr Constance told Novocastrians they should embrace the future possibilities the light rail can bring.

“The light rail project will facilitate and open up enormous opportunities as part of the activation of the city,” he said.

“Not only is the [the Transport for Newcastle mandate] the integration of the transport modes, but it’s also bringing in the pedestrian and cycling access.”

The popularity of Mr Baird began to drop after a laundry list of policies and plans by the state government were refused by the electorates.

The Nationals Party lost their stronghold of Orange during a by-election last year, which saw a 20-point lead wiped out and a member from the Shooters and Fishers Party being elected to the lower house.

It has been widely agreed that Mr Baird's insistence on the banning of greyhound racing across the state led to the defeat.

Council amalgamations were another widely-panned decision by the Baird Government, which wreaked havoc on

Hunter councils.

Port Stephens Council is yet to know if it will be forced to merge with Newcastle Council, or if it can merge with their preferred choice of Dungog Council.

Mike Baird visited Newcastle in December. [Picture: Ian Crouch]

Mr Baird remained confident that council amalgamations were a good thing.

“Council amalgamations, I strongly believe, will deliver long-term benefits for every member of New South Wales.  It will provide huge opportunities and much more competitiveness into the long-term,” he said.

When asked on Thursday whether he will return to the private sector, Mr Baird did not rule it out.

Constance Accused of Snubbing Business Owners - Update

BY IAN CROUCH

 The Transport Minister has come under fire for not meeting with business owners affected by the Newcastle Light Rail project.

Andrew Constance is in town today to inspect progress on the Wickham Transport Interchange.

He'll also attend a 100-dollar-a-head lunch .

However, Newcastle MP, Tim Crackenthorp says businesses in the CBD deserve an audience with the minister as well, with many worried about future trade with the loss of 280 parking spaces outside their businesses.

However, Andrew Constance has refuted the Mr Crackenthorp's claim while addressing the media in Newcastle this morning.

"It's an outrageous claim by him. Anna Zeike (CBD Coordinator General For Newcastle) met with the business community and Tim Crackenthorp in the last couple of months and I will continue to meet with the business community, but I'm not going to meet with a political circus...we will work to activate precincts. That's why we'll work with individual business owners over individual concerns", he said.

Andrew Constance