NSW Government Promise High Speed Rail Ahead Of March Election

BY JARROD MELMETH

The NSW Government have promised to start work on a fast rail network which could include Newcastle to Sydney services, should they be re-elected in March.

The bold plans announced on Tuesday proposed two types of trains, faster rail which would travel at speeds of up to 200km/h and High-Speed Rail which would travel at speeds of up to 250km/h.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said a faster rail network will give people greater choice about where they live and how they commute to work.

"We know a fast rail network will transform NSW unlike any other project and we will make it a reality.

"We need to make it easier for people to consider moving to regional NSW and there is no better way to do it than building a fast rail network," Ms Berejiklian said. 

The four routes identified by the state government are Northern Route including the Central Coast and Newcastle; Southern Inland Route including Goulburn and Canberra; Western Route including Lithgow, Bathurst and Orange/Parkes; and Southern Coastal Route including Wollongong and Nowra.

The NSW Government has appointed Professor Andrew McNaughton to lead an expert panel to provide advice to the Premier on how the government should best deliver a fast rail network.
Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald said the commute to Sydney from Newcastle could soon be just 45 minutes.

"Obviously this has to go through a technical case, and they have to go through a business case. This is a commitment we will be following through if we win government in March.

"Following the work to be done by Prof McNaughton, the government will take it to the next stage about what we can do. This could mean faster rail or high-speed rail," Mr MacDonald said.

NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance said in the long term, high-speed rail would see the development of new alignments and lines, providing speeds of over 250km/h, giving the potential to cut travel times by up to 75 per cent.

Artists impression of the planned high-speed rail.

Crakanthorp Wants To Talk Business With The Premier

BY TYLER FARDELL

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian will be in Newcastle on Friday to officially open the NeWSpace building but Member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp will be taking this opportunity to speak up for businesses affected by Light-Rail construction.

Several businesses along Hunter street have closed down already and the remaining businesses aren't receiving any support from the state government.

"The council has stepped in where the government should be. They are offering assistance to businesses affected by the light rail project that the government owns", Mr Crakanthorp said.

The current support from Council to affected businesses is a rate assistance plan where commercial property owners receive a rate rebate.

Tim Crakanthorp says he will be calling on the Premier to honour her commitment from her last visit, where she said;

"If there's demonstrated loss, we're always considering rental assistance. That's what we've done for other projects in other parts of NSW, so of course, we'll look at those issues".

To date, two businesses have sought assistance from the Premier and have had their requests denied.

Source; NewcastleHerald

Labor demands rental assistance for Light Rail affected businesses

BY JARROD MELMETH

The Hunter Business Chamber and Newcastle Now will be holding a forum on Wednesday with the Office of the NSW Small Business Commissioner, where the commissioner will hear from small businesses affected by the construction of the light rail.

NSW Premier said on a recent visit to Newcastle that the State Government would consider rental assistance.

"If there is demonstrated loss, we are always considering rental assistance. That is what we have done for projects in other parts of the State," Ms Berejiklian said

NSW Shadow Minister for small business Jenny Aitchison said the Premier came to town with vague promises, well over a month ago.

"Here we are with businesses closing down, and those left surviving on minimal trade. It's time for the Premier to make good on her promise.

"The Government has shown no consideration to businesses in the areas impacted by the light rail. It's all very good for the premier to say the light rail will bring customers, but that doesn't put food on the table for struggling small business owners and their employees. It doesn't guarantee they'll still be in business when the light rail finally arrives," Ms Aitchison said.

Since construction began the light rail has come under fire from the State opposition as being a "budget blowout" while Hunter Street retailers continue to feel the pinch.

Ms Aitchison said one of the businesses she had been in contact with has seen a downturn of about 70 percent in one part of their business since light rail construction began.

Retailers are thanking local community members for their support but say their businesses draw traditionally from out of town patrons, and they are just not coming into the CBD anymore.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said it's time for the Premier to step up and support Newcastle businesses doing it tough.

Hunter Street light rail construction. Photo: Jarrod Melmeth.

It's all About Building for the Future: Premier Berejiklian Thrilled with Newcastle Interchange

BY JESSICA ROUSE

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says she's absolutely thrilled with the Newcastle Interchange and the progress the light rail project is making.

The Premier is in Newcastle today to present the political outlook for the Hunter at the Property Council's final lunch of the year, and while she was here she also inspected the progress on the $650 million-plus investment the government has made in Revitalising Newcastle.

Since the Revitalising Newcastle program started, the city's population has grown by 4.6 per cent and employment has increased as well, up 9 per cent.

Private investment has jumped too, with the project triggering $2 billion.

Revitalising Newcastle's Michael Cassell, Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot
MacDonald, and NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian.

Premier Berejiklian said despite all of the hassles along the way, she's thrilled the government stuck to their guns and delivered.

"I remember people were complaining to me about why are you building the light rail and now people are saying we want an increased network, we want you to further increase the network so I remember at the time getting absolute criticism for announcing the light rail project,"

"I'm glad we stuck to our guns. It's going to be fantastic for Newcastle , but also the broader region. This is all about building for the future."

"I've learnt one thing about Newcastle, there is a minority of people that don't want to see things change because they've got vested interests, the vast majority of people want to see Newcastle move ahead and that's who we're batting for, those people who are invested in the future, invested in giving kids a go here in Newcastle and making sure Newcastle has the opportunity to become an even greater city - it is a great place already to live and work."

The Premier defended the cost of the light rail project after reports today suggested it was double the cost of similar projects across the state.

"There's no point taking down all of the wires from the heavy rail if you weren't going to do this, and I've heard some unfair criticism about the light rail project costing a bit more than other projects, that's because other projects have wire at the top of them like Canberra. We've chosen to make this wireless because we're preparing this for the future," said Premier Berejiklian.   

Image David Threlfo Twitter.

Petition Launched To Save Koala Population At Mambo Wetlands

BY IAN CROUCH

A petition has been launched calling on the state government to buy back the Mambo Wetlands at Port Stephens in a bid to save the local Koala population.

The government sold the 6 hectare parcel of land to a property developer last year, leaving residents shocked and dismayed.

Port Stephens Councillor, Jaime Abbott raised the issue with Premier Gladys Berejiklian during her visit to the shire last weekend and Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter, Scot MacDonald has previously acknowledged selling the land was a mistake.

Port Stephens Council is considering a development application for the site.

Port Stephens MP, Kate Washington is hoping people power will win the day and is aiming to collect 10,000 signatures on the petition so the issue can be debated in state parliament.

Residents Protest Against Sale Of Mambo Wetlands At Salamander Bay Picture: Port Stephens Examiner

Low Resources Putting Hunter Paramedics in Danger

BY LAUREN KEMPE

The Health Services Union is calling on the state government to provide more protection for Hunter paramedics after another attack from a patient.

The latest incident occurred on Sunday morning, where a 19-year-old man allegedly bit a local paramedic on the arm, drawing blood.

New South Wales Police and two paramedics were called to a Muswellbrook home proceeding a concern for welfare report.

Health Services Union Secretary Gerard Hayes, says the Premier needs to seriously consider paramedic safety as a priority.

'It;s very simple. The Premier needs to stop quoting about a $5.4billion surplus, and start employing paramedics who can actually change peoples' lives, and resource the ambulance service to a level where paramedic safety can be guaranteed.'

The incident follows a similar attack at Belmont in April this year, where a man assaulted one paramedic and threatened another who were both assisting a pregnant woman.

Mr Hayes says these kinds of incidents are very common, and paramedics deserve significantly more protection.

'The ambulance service is grossly under-resourced, we say a figure of 800 - in fact, it's more like 1,000 extra paramedics that are required. It's really an important issue that needs to be consistently raised about paramedic safety.

'I think it is really important for the community to very clearly tell the government that paramedics need to be protected while they're protecting others.'

The 19-year-old male patient is expected to be charged with assault.

Image Credit: https://www.greenleft.org.au/content/vic-paramedics-highest-trained-lowest-paid

Calls for the Government to ban plastic bags

BY LAURISE DICKSON

Member for Charlestown, Jodie Harrison is calling for the NSW Government to support Labor's commitment to ban single-use plastic bags.

In giving her Notice of Motion, Ms Harrison commended supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths who recently announced their plans to phase out single-use plastic bags over the next 12 months.

The Labor Government are urging the NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian to follow in the footsteps of the ACT, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory, who have all banned single-use plastic bags, with Queensland committing to do so next year.

"I call on the Premier to show some leadership and support NSW Labor in bringing an end to the use of these plastic bags," said Ms Harrison.

Ms Harrison believes the environment will continue to suffer if something isn't done to combat this issue.

"Plastic bags that are provided by retailers end up in our waterways and natural areas, and that damages our environment and our animals," said Ms Harrison.

"We've seen terrible photographs of turtles being caught in plastic bags and we know that fish end up with pieces of plastic inside them."

Ms Harrison says local residents can make a difference by choosing reusable bags over plastic bags when they shop.

"Whether they be cloth or silk, there are a lot of different bags that people can use."

Budget blowout on Newcastle's light rail

BY JESSICA ROUSE

State Opposition Leader Luke Foley dropped into Newcastle this morning calling on the state government to come clean about the real cost of the light rail project.

The true cost of Newcastle's Light Rail project was revealed in leaked cabinet documents released over the weekend which shows the project's budget has been blown out by around $35 million.

When she visited the Hunter last week to speak with local businesses, Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the project was in fact on budget and on time and anything to the contrary was rubbish.

Opposition Leader Luke Foley and Federal
Member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp

Luke Foley the documents prove the indisputable fact the project is neither on budget or on time.

"Stop telling porkies your own internal documents show its blown out by $35 million dollars already and you know she comes here, refuses to release any detail about costing but says trust me it's on budget. Well, I've released the information, I've released what they've kept hidden - $290 million dollars and rising for two and a bit kilometres of light rail."

Federal Member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp sees it as a total disrespect for the people of Newcastle, particularly when the figures for the Sydney light rail project have been released.

"This premier (Gladys Berejiklian) was here last Tuesday and looked in the eyes of the Newcastle community and said this project was on budget. Well, clearly the evidence indicates that it is not. Now this government is not being transparent and it is not being clear and it needs to be clear on this particular issue."

Luke Foley says the government need to look to the future, just like Labor would if they were in power.

"We're not going to rip up the light rail track and close it down and indeed there needs to be a discussion about the future - there's not much point in delivering a light rail network for a big city that's just two kilometres long so we're interested in the discussion about where it might expand into the future and doing the proper planning work now."

The Premier is coming to Newcastle

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Premier Gladys Berejiklian is in Newcastle today to speak with business owners about the state budget and how it will affect them and the whole Hunter region.

The Premier will also no doubt be grilled on the disruption in the city with the Light Rail project and Newcastle 500 preparation underway.

Some business owners on parts of Hunter and Watt Street will be after answers from the Premier with Ausgrid announcing they'll be cutting off power this Saturday for eight hours.

The power is scheduled to be out between 8:30am and 4:30pm so street lights can be replaced in preparation for the V8 race in November.

Businesses are worried about the loss of power during the day, and on a weekend, fearing they will lose a lot of business with electronic EFTPOS payments not able to be put through when there's no power.

Fairfax reports some businesses get more than 80 per cent of their sales through EFTPOS at their store.

Image smh.com.au

New Bus Services On The Way In The Hunter

BY IAN CROUCH

Premier Gladys Berejikian has announced more than 170 new buses will be purchased for the state, with funding to be allocated in the upcoming budget.

It means more than 100 extra weekly bus services will be added to the following routes:

* Route 130 Fingal Bay to Newcastle via Nelson bay and Anna Bay.
* Route 166 Cessnock and Kurri Kurri to Stockland Green Hills via Maitland.
* Route 179 North Rothbury to Stock;land Green Hills via Maitland.
* Route 262 Cameron Park to Charlestown via Cardiff.
* Route 269 Toronto to Charlestown.
* Route 270 Toronto West to Wallsend via Stockland Glandale.
* Route 275 Morisset to Toronto via Wangi Wangi.

The additional buses and services forms part of the 2017/18 Growth Services program.

Meanwhile, Newcastle commuters will soon be able to catch a bus from just about wherever they like as part of a major innovation in public transport.

In an Australian first, starting next month, commuters will be able to make a phone call, visit a website or use an app to order a small to medium-sized bus to pick them up from virtual bus stops.

The buses will run on flexible routes and timetables around Newcastle, with changeable pick-up and drop-off points depending on demand.

New Buses And Services On The Way For The Hunter

MP's stand united for the Glendale Interchange

BY JESSICA ROUSE

There was an outcry amongst the Hunter's State MP's this week after the Lake Macquarie Transport Interchange missed out on getting funding from the Federal government in the 2017-18 budget.

Also known as the Glendale Interchange, the project would see a transport route open between Cardiff and Glendale considerably aid in traffic congestion and make the trip faster - something locals see as quintessential to the area.

All Hunter Labor MP's and Independent Lake Macquarie MP Greg Piper stand united in their fight for funding with the exception of Upper Hunter Nationals MP Michael Johnsen who declined to add his name to the joint letter from members.

The letter addressed to Premier Gladys Berejiklian highlighted the regional importance of the project.

The next stage of funding would involve the construction of the Pennant Street Bridge and the state government is being encouraged to commit $13 million in funding for the stage in the hope it would be matched by the Federal Government.

"We are on a united front seeking the state government to support this critical piece of infrastructure for the Hunter. We've got PropertyCouncil,, Business Chamber, Hunter councils and all Hunter Labor MP's plus Independent MP Greg Piper from Lake Macquarie, " said Shadow Minister for the Hunter Kate Washington.

"It's a really unusual situation where there is a united front on the ground from across the Hunter for the project and state and federal government just continue to ignore the voices of the locals."

Motorists won't be reaping any rewards from Green Slip reforms

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Motorists across the state won't be reaping any rewards when the NSW Government put forward their proposed reforms to Green Slips.

The reforms would see Hunter motorists Green Slip bills cut by $100, but the system of lump sum payments would be changed to weekly payments and those claiming serious injuries won't be able to claim for longer than two years for a loss of earnings, are just some of the changes which could come into fruition.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian and her government claim the changes would benefit taxpayers in a reduction of costs.

Not everyone agrees, least of all Swansea MP Yasmin Catley.

This isn't the first time the government have tried to make changes to the system, and if their bill is successfully passed in parliament this time it would come into play in December.

"They know that what they're trying to do is bad for motorists and that's why this is their third attempt. So we'll see what they have to deliver today but I'll tell you what Labor will be sticking up for motorists and making sure that the fundamentals of the CTP which are looking after people who have been injured through no fault of their own and that they are compensated and looked after into the future," said Yasmin Catley.

The reforms would also aim to enhance the power of the State Insurance Regulatory Authority to tackle fraud and regulate insurer profits which have averaged 20 per cent since 1999.

This is something Yasmin Catley does agree with saying "most importantly the insurance companies super profit has to be stopped. This government has been reluctant to do that. They're too soft on insurance companies and that's because people are lobbying for insurance companies and it's important that at the end of the day it isn't insurance companies that get the best end of this deal, it has to be the motorists of NSW".

State Government Rethinks Council Mergers

BY IAN CROUCH

The state government is rethinking its policy on council amalgamations, with the future of Four Hunter councils still up in the air.

Premier Gladys Berejikian is reportedly looking at plebiscites at the next local government elections, giving residents a say on whether council mergers should go ahead.

Voters may also be given a say on the possibility of unpicking mergers which have already gone ahead.

Newcastle is in line to amalgamate with Port Stephens Council, while a merger between Maitland and Dungog has also been earmarked.

Premier Gladys Berejikian