Cessnock City Council ready for growth

BY JARROD MELMETH

Cessnock City Council says they are ready and poised for growth in the region after it was reported on Monday that the housing affordability crisis in Sydney is forcing essential service workers to the Hunter.

The reports come from a Univerisity of Sydney study of key workers and housing affordability in Sydney which found that the closest local government area with an affordable median rental price for an entry level enrolled nurse is Cessnock.

Cessnock Mayor Bob Pynsent welcomed the news labelling the region as the perfect location for those considering making a change as the cost of living pressures in Sydney continue to mount and lock people out of the property market.

"The Cessnock area offers something unique and incomparable to our metropolitan counterparts. We are strategically located to Sydney and Newcastle, we offer affordable land and housing for growing business and residential demand.

"Importantly we have the prosperity to absorb population and economic growth. It is not just the lifestyle benefits we offer but the opportunity we have for business," Mayor Pynsent said.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald said the reports spell opportunity for Cessnock.

"The region has an affordable lifestyle with an abundance of attractions - space, great education at a primary, secondary, vocational education and tertiary levels; good sports and culture infrastructure; enviable community; access to one of Australia's premier wine regions; an hour away from beached and NSW's second largest city that is enjoying a renewal and renaissance," Mr MacDonald said.

Cessnock Mayor Bob Pynsent. 

Major Change-Up to Regional and Hunter Policing

BY SARAH BARONOWSKI

NSW Police have today announced a new policing model for regional NSW which involves re-engineering some of our local area commands, including the Hunter and Port Stephens.

34 local area commands (LAC's) will now be replaced by 26 police districts across the state and each will operate under an "Officer in Charge" model.

According to Deputy Commissioner Regional Field Operations Gary Worboys, this will be a great improvement to regional policing.

"This model allows for a more dynamic and flexible approach to investigations, proactive operations and focusing on important community issue like domestic and family violence and mid-level drug supply."

Under the change-up, the Hunter Valley LAC will combine with the southern sectors of the Central Hunter while Port Stephens is set to combine with northern sectors of the Central Hunter. 

Cessnock Mayor, Bob Pynsent says he's not happy for his electorate to be part of this change.

"I'm not comfortable with the Cessnock Local Government area being part of the Hunter Valley Command mainly because if it's based in Muswellbrook, Cessnock has the greatest population of all the other towns and it should be based in Cessnock."

He says he doesn't think this change will be of any benefit to his community and says it's all about money.

"I think it's a cost-saving measure. At no point in the consultation that I've been apart of have there been any increase in numbers put to me. Policing out of Muswellbrook and not specifically in Cessnock is not something that this community wants. "

Wild Weather Leaves Kurri Kurri Looking Like a War Zone

BY JESSICA ROUSE

It could be days before Kurri Kurri gets back on its feet after a ferocious storm ripped through the area yesterday afternoon.

Cyclonic conditions hit the town at about 2pm, with it came winds of up to 100 kilomtres per hour that ripped roofs off buildings, brought trees down on cars and cut power to thousands of homes.

Image MJF Productions.

Emergency services were run off their feet with the Kurri Kurri Community Centre evacuated after the building partially collapsed, and the Ambulance Practice hall became one of the worst hit with the roof completely ripped off.

Cessnock Mayor Bob Pynsent said the storm was short but severe.

"I was in the area yesterday when it happened and it is like a war zone,"

"The plan today is that the SES, the police and council have a meeting this morning and from there we will work out a way forward, particularly around the safety aspect of the buildings that lost their roofs," said Mayor Bob Pynsent.

Today Kurri Kurri Public School is closed due to damage, as will the library until it is given the all clear. The OOSh which runs out of the Ambulance Hall will relocate if a suitable venue can be found.



"We will get a full assessment today with the meeting between SES, the police and council and we will then be putting forward an emergency funding plan from the government," said Mayor Bob Pynsent.

Rachael Squires from the SES says crews are still dealing with dozens of calls for assistance.

"In total, we had over 175 calls for assistance. Last night we had 20 crews on the ground from across our region, we also had assistance from a number of crews from Fire and Rescue and so we managed to be able to complete around 90 of those jobs so we'll still be working on the ground today."

Ausgrid is still working to restore power to 1300 homes around Kurri Kurri, Abermain, Weston Sawyers Gully and Loxford.

"Everyone needs to remain safe because we still have around 1300 people without power so it's going to be a tough day again today," said Mayor Bob Pynsent.

Kurri Kurri Communuity Centre Image MJF Productions.

Image MJF Productions.

Updated: Residents Concerns About Cessnock Gaol Expansion Still Not Addressed

BY IAN CROUCH

Corrections Minister, David Elliott has responded to concerns raised in the media about access to the Cessnock Correctional Centre as part of the prison's expansion.

In a statement, the minister said that while existing access arrangements are adequate, a traffic management plan is being prepared to take into account the prison's expansion and he won't rule out changes once the plan is completed.

"Corrective Services NSW continues to consult with Cessnock City Council to examine all options for future access to the site. A number of proposed alternatives are being considered. We take community concerns very seriously and would like to reassure local residents and businesses that their concerns are being considered," he said.

NSW Corrections Minister David Elliott

Construction is about to begin on the 330 bed expansion of Cessnock Gaol, but residents concerns about the project still haven't been addressed.

Corrections Minister, David Elliott turned the first sod on the facility yesterday, which will make Cessnock one of the largest gaols in the state.

Cessnock Mayor Bob Pynsent says the creation of 70 new jobs is welcome, but residents will still be left with the visual impact and the cost of maintaining a council road into the state-run facility.

"It would be nice if we could sort out the screening issues to the residents who live close by and to sort out the access on state roads and not the ratepayers paying for the maintenance of the roads into a state facility," he said.

Cessnock Mayor Bob Pynsent

Cessnock Want 'More Police on the Beat'

BY NIKOLA JOLANOVIC and JESSICA ROUSE

Cessnock City Council is urging the state Government to lend further support and resources to the area's police command under their 'More Police on the Beat' campaign.

Issues of low staff numbers and ageing infrastructure have prompted concerns from both residents and Councilors about the ability of local Police to continue protecting the growing Cessnock region.

"The people generally don't feel safe. The number of police officers who've been allocated to the Central Hunter Command, particularly in Cessnock, is really not enough," said Mayor Bob Pynsent.

The 'More Police on the Beat' campaign is urging residents to sign a petition addressed to the NSW Government calling for more police to be allocated to the Cessnock area to match the growth - which is only going to continue to grow.

"The community is really alarmed that there's not enough police physical presence and they're calling on the Police Minister to increase the allocation of police in the Cessnock Local Government Area,"

"Well I think the community if they really feel that they're insufficient police numbers, they should join us and sign the petition and let's make a real voice of the people of Cessnock to look for increased police numbers," said Mayor Pynsent. 

Image cessnockadvertiser.com.au

Cessnock residents asked to clean up their act

BY JARROD MELMETH

A notorious illegal dumping ground on McLeod Road in Loxford has been cleaned up and Cessnock City Council is hoping it stays that way.

Cleaning up the 22.4 hectare site was no easy task and Council worked closely with the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA), Crown Lands and local company Goninan & Sons to get the job done.

The project involved removing 78.6 tonnes of waste, installing fencing around the site and putting in three gates for access to services.

The waste removed from the site included 7.92 tonnes of asbestos, 28 tyres, 12 needles, whitegoods and general household rubbish.

Cessnock City Mayor, Councillor Bob Pynsent said he was disgusted the site got to this point and is calling on the community to clean up their act.

“One of the concerning things in this clean-up was the amount of children’s toys and items such as prams and car seats, indicating families are some of the key offenders.

“If kids are in tow when parents are dumping rubbish in bushland, it sends a message that this is OK, which is highly concerning,”Cr Pynsent said.

In an effort to educate the community and prevent further illegal dumping, Council also distributed a brochure to all residents in Loxford, Kurri Kurri, Clifleigh, Standford Methyr and Weston.
This project was funded by the NSW EPA through the Waste Less Recycle More initiative, funded by the waste levy. 

The dumping site at Loxford. 

Cessnock Council calling for funds to fix roads

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Cessnock City Council is calling on the NSW Government to make their roads a priority and address concerns over the condition of state roads in the area.

Cessnock councillors have voted unanimously to support a motion to seek support from state government officials.

Mayor Bob Pynsent says the council are seeking urgent meetings with the Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight Melinda Pavey, in a bid to work towards a solution for Cessnock's ageing state road network.

Talks with other official parties haven't been as successful as the council had hoped.

'We've been talking to RMS (Roads and Maritime Services) for a number of months now, and we don't seem to be getting a final result; as in funding for our roads, and we're concerned about Main Road Heddon Greta, the entrances out of Frame Drive Bridge and Wine Country Drive at Nulkaba."

Among the roads and intersections the council say need attention include:
- Wine Country Drive, Nulkaba - intersection work
- Wine Country Drive, Nulkaba maintenance works and access to the Cessnock Correctional Centre
- Main Road, Heddon Greta - intersection issues and pedestrian issues
- Hart Road, Frame Drive, Orange Street, Cessnock Road connection to the HEX
- Wollombi Road

The Hunter Expressway is thought to be causing a lot of problems for the small town roads with a lot of extra traffic moving through the town to either get on the expressway or getting off to go elsewhere.

"The need for funding is purely on the saftey issues that have resulted from teh extra traffic on the road network around the hunter expressway," said Bob Pynsent.

Cessnock City Council want in on the 2018 Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton Relay

BY JARROD MELMETH

Cessnock City Councillors have unanimously supported an urgency motion to write to the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation and request that the Hunter Valley vineyards be included in the Queen's Baton Relay.

The Queen's Baton carries a message to the athletes of the Commonwealth from Queen Elizabeth II, which embarks on a journey around the world from Buckingham Palace to the Opening Ceremony of the Games, where the message is removed and read out.

Cessnock City Mayor, Bob Pynsent has welcomed the motion.

“This is a fantastic idea and a great opportunity for not only our residents, who would no doubt turn out in their thousands to support the event, but also to promote our wonderful region.

"When Cessnock was a part of the Sydney Olympic torch relay, it was such a great festival and showcasing of the vineyards and the tourist potential of the area," Mr Pynsent said.

Residents are being encouraged to nominate local batonbearers for the Queen’s Baton Relay for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

From left: Sydney torch bearer Jan Williams, Councillor Jay
Suvaal & Mayor Bob Pynsent.

Calls to reinstate Scot MacDonald as Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A common sense approach is being urged to be used when the NSW government appoints the Hunter's next Parliamentary Secretary for the region.

Catherine Cusak resigned from the role yesterday, after sending a scathing nine page email to Premier Gladys Berejinklian which was leaked to the media.

Chair of the Hunter Joint Organisation of Councils Cessnock Mayor Bob Pynsent, is calling for Scot MacDonald to be reinstated to the role.

Cr Pynsent believes Scot MacDonald is the obvious choice, and he isn't the only one calling for the former secretary to be reinstated.

"I've spoken to a number of mayors this morning and the consensus is this would be the best option for the wider Hunter," he said.

Maitland Mayor Peter Blackmore also supports Scot MacDonald returning to his position as he had 'supported us [the Hunter Joint Organisation] magnificently'.

There are concerns a representative with limited local knowledge could take on the role, which many agree wouldn't be good for the region.

Muswellbrook Shire Mayor Martin Rush is of the same opinion, sharing concerns around appointing a representative with limited local knowledge; especially when appointing Scot MacDonald would mean there is someone in the role who "already has a strong understanding of the challenges unique to our area".

At a media conference with Shadow Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe this morning, Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp expressed the same views.

He said, "this government is divided and dysfunctional. Now, we need a minister for the Hunter at the cabinet table, to put a strong voice for the people of Newcastle and the Hunter".