Cruise Terminal Funding Loss A Setback For The Region: Hunter Business Chamber

BY JARROD MELMETH

The New South Wales Government has made good on its pre-election threat by pulling $12.7 million funding from the Newcastle Cruise Terminal project.

The funding for the Port was announced in 2016 by former Premier Mike Baird, but last year the port revealed the project had suffered cost blow outs and the new building would not be able to serve as a home port for ships as a result.

Since revealing the cost blow outs, the NSW Government have refused to provide more money for the project.

"Port of Newcastle has been working on this project on behalf of the NSW Government on the basis of providing a facility that meets the cruise industry's needs while remaining within the funding provided.

"While disappointed construction of the terminal facility cannot proceed at this time, we respect that funding is no longer available," a statement form the Port of Newcastle said.

In a statement to 2NUR-FM, an Infrastructure NSW spokesperson said "the $12.7 million in Restart NSW funding remains available to Port of Newcastle should the project be delivered as per the original scope agreed in the funding deed."

Hunter Business Chamber CEO Bob Hawes has described the move as a significant setback for the region.

"The loss of funding is very disappointing, particularly for those tourism operators whoa re investing in facilities and services to improve our visitor economy.

"We are currently receiving around 28,000 passenger visits per year from cruise ships and many of those are overseas visitors.

"It is clear that the existing facilities are inadequate for a growing market and do not help create a good first impression for our visitors," Mr Hawes said.

The Port of Newcastle is acknowledged as an emerging tourism gateway in the Greater Newcastle Metropolitan Plan, which Mr Hawes says it should be treated as such.

Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp is accusing the government of short changing the project causing it to stall.

"We've known that Newcastle would need more than the poultry $12.7 million provided, when Eden, in the Minister for Transport's electorate is about to cut the ribbon on a $44 million cruise ship terminal," Mr Crakanthorp said.

What could have been. The designs for the new terminal released in 2017.

The current cruise terminal. Photo: The Newcastle Herald.

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

Newcastle MP fired up Over Potential Relocation of Vital Fire Truck Equipment

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A proposal to relocate a heavy rescue fire truck and its two permanent staff from Cooks Hill Fire Station has one local MP fired up.

Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp believes the proposal to relocate the equipment and the staff into New Lambton is dangerous, especially considering the rapid growth of the CBD.

He says emergency services need to have a long hard look at the idea and completely reconsider it.

"It's something that really does need to be looked really hard at, it could increase emergency response times and the risk to life is something that really needs to be thought about long and hard and I suggest that is done,"

"Given the city is moving along so quickly and we have so many apartments and high rises and development in the city, it would be detrimental to move it from the CBD," said Tim Crakanthorp.

But Newcastle Superintendent Greg Windeatt has hosed down the claims, confirming to 2NURFM the proposal is just that - a proposal.

He said proposals such as this one are put forward all of the time as a part of the services review of their delivery commitments and resources.

Tim Crakathorp maintains though that it's a dangerous idea, and he's urging the idea to be taken off the table.

"I've been approached by constituents on this issue so I'm bringing that to the attention of the minister and asking for a reassessment of this possible decision, or proposed decision."

Image fire.nsw.gov.au

Labor's Fair Go For Renters

BY ADAM ACHURCH

Labor launched their "Fair Go for Renters" petition this week, in order to push the government into action and bring on a debate within Parliament to make changes to laws involving renters within the Hunter region.

Shadow Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation and Swansea MP Yasmin Catley believes:

"This petition will bring the debate right into Parliament- and force the Government to say whether it supports fairer rules for renters."

One of the major problems within renters and landlords is the "No Grounds" provisions, which allows landlords to evict tenants without giving any reason.

With Newcastle's percentage of renters alone sitting at 39.9 percent, the housing market becoming less and less affordable, tenants are scared of bringing up issues with landlords due to the risk of eviction.

"People shouldn't be scared to point out a broken window or a leaking tap just in case the landlord decides to turf them out," said Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp.

Labor is willing to work with both landlords and tenants, to come up with a fairer alternative to "No Grounds" provisions.

Yasmin Catley and Tim Crackenthorp Launch The Fair Go For Renters Petition

"This Government Needs to Get their Act Together": Newcastle MP on Transport Strategy

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp is demanding the government get their act together with a transport strategy for the Newcastle 500.

The Supercars race is only four weeks away and the government is yet to release a plan for how 150,000 visitors, as well as residents, will be travelling around the city.

Tim Crakanthorp said Newcastle is already dealing with a terrible transport system, so the sooner a plan is put together the better.

"Keolis Downer has a terrible record of running the buses in the city since they've taken over we're got nothing but problems. The drivers haven't been being paid properly, we've got superannuation issues, we've got school children being left on the side of the road. it's an absolute disgrace."

Keolis Downer will be faced with a myriad of challenges.

Hunter Street is closed for light rail construction forcing traffic along King Street, Wharf Road will be closed from Argyle Street during the race and racegoers who use the train service will be jumping off at the new Wickham interchange and travelling the remaining distance on a bus, by foot or on a bike.

Tim Crakanthorp said if people come and they can't get around, they may not ever come back to visit again.

"If they come here and its gridlock, I don't think they'll be coming back so we really need this government to get their act together, get this plan, work with Keolis Downer who have a terrible record at this point, and make sure the people of Newcastle can be confident that their beautiful city will be on display and people can actually see the race,"

"Now this minister needs to get very organised for this race because at the moment it's looking pretty damn difficult and I would say that this government needs to come out very quickly with a very good plan with Keolis Downer," said Tim Crakanthorp.

Hunter Jobless Rate At 18 Month High

BY IAN CROUCH

New figures show the unemployment rate across Newcastle and the Hunter Valley has surged to its highest point in 18 months.

The jobless rate for Newcastle and Lake Macquarie jumped to 7.2 percent in August, while in the Hunter Valley, the unemployment rate hit 7.6.

State Newcastle MP, Tim Crackenthorp has slammed the government for presiding over what he describes as a massive increase in the jobless rate, saying claims of jobs and growth are exaggerated .

However, Hunter Business Chamber CEO, Bob Hawes expects job numbers will improve thanks to the construction boom and rising coal prices.

Newcastle MP, Tim Crackenthorp

Hunter Business Chamber C.E.O, Bob Hawes

It's an Absolute Disgrace: Newcastle MP on Leaked Light Rail Document

BY JESSICA ROUSE

It's been revealed the cost of the Newcastle Light Rail project far outweighs the benefits.

A leaked cabinet report revealed to Fairfax and the ABC shows the decision to cut the rail line at Wickham was made before costing of the light rail project was carried out.

When the costings were carried out the document revealed the 2.7 kilometre track cost benefit is only 70 cents to the dollar and initially the body responsible for funding high-cost infrastructure projects rejected the plan because it benefits ratio was less than one dollar.

The cost also blew out to around $600 million, which is $220 million per kilometre of light rail track.

Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp says there were clearly other options on the table, better options, which in the end would've been better for the city.

Image Transport NSW

"This report also indicates the government would've saved a heck of a lot of money if they'd done a cut and put the heavy rail underground and still opened up all of the city for a lot less money and gotten a much larger revitalisation bang for its buck."

A hypothetical plan to proceed with urban renewal without truncating the rail line had a benefit/cost ratio of around 2.4, meaning each dollar spent would be worth $2.40.

"This government is making the wrong decisions in terms of how they open up and renew the city and their own advice says that, but they choose to ignore it. It's no wonder they're not releasing these reports because they don't want to be called out and found out and they have been," said Tim Crakanthorp.

He adds, "This just shows the light rail was never a transport or an urban renewal decision. It was simply a political decision and it's an absolute disgrace that this government is spending this sort of money that gets a negative cost-benefit outcome."

The Rail, Tram and Bus Union has also commented on the revelations today, stating the negative impact they originally believed the project would have on commuters, is now the reality.

"Unfortunately this confirms everything we suspected, but were hoping wasn't true - that the NSW Government's decision to shut the rail line wasn't made with commuters in mind at all," said RTBU NSW Secretary Alex Claassens.

Just another Problem for Keolis Downer in Newcastle

BY JESSICA ROUSE

There appears to be even more problems with Newcastle's private transport operator Keolis Downer.

Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp has been told by parents at St Pius X High School that buses have failed to pick their children up leaving them with no choice but to take them to school themselves.

On one occasion, a parent says the 816 bus that takes her son from The Junction to St Pius X High School failed to turn up twice.

Tim Crakanthorp says it's just not on.

"There's a lot wrong with this private operator at this point, but I've got real concerns with school kids being left alone on the side of the road with buses not turning up. That's a real problem."

Keolis Downer is already facing a lot of criticism across the board for their treatment of their drivers by underpaying them, not directly paying payments to superannuation and private healthcare, and also not handing over complete uniforms.

"It's up to this government to pull them into line, they've got a contract with them and there are rewards for increasing patronage, but I want to know if there are any penalties for missing kids, leaving kids on the side of the road and putting their health and safety at risk. That's what I want to know," said Tim Crakanthorp.

He says he'll be raising the issue in Parliament this week.

"I'm calling on Minister Constance to take control of this situation as we've had kids missed for buses for school on numerous occasions. So with over 300 bus services missed this minister really needs to step in ad pull this company into line. It's just not good enough."