Final Stage of Inner City Bypass Could Start Late 2019

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

More than four years after former Premier Mike Baird announced funding for the fifth and final stage of the Newcastle Inner City Bypass, it's been revealed today the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the project has been approved.

The Department of Planning and Environment received 173 submissions after the EIS was exhibited in late 2016, with residents highlighting issues with the Jesmond Park shared path, noise and vibration during construction, the hospital interchange and pedestrian access.

The Department's final assessment means construction will be subject to a few conditions including the preparation of a Construction Environmental Management Plan, but Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot Macdonald said the approval means construction planning can finally get underway.

"One of the very, very important things was that we got confirmation of the dual access ramps in and out of John Hunter Hospital, going north and south,"

"So it's an important step and the NSW Liberal government will be announcing in the not too distant future the next steps of construction."

According to Scot Macdonald, Roads and Maritime Services has advised work could begin on the project by the end of this year.

The 3.4km bypass between Rankin Park and Jesmond is expected to help motorists avoid up to 11 sets of traffic lights on the existing route and will help speed up travel during morning and afternoon peaks.

Maitland residents will also be set to benefit from another announcement made today, with $1.5 million dollars to be invested in traffic management improvements for the Cessnock Road and Church Street roundabout.

Work will begin in April to install traffic lights on the eastbound entrance and widen Cessnock Road.

During peak hours the lights will be triggered by traffic queue detectors which will be installed on the New England Highway westbound approach.

Local roads were high on the agenda today, with Scot Macdonald also joined at Beresfield by Wallsend Liberal candidate Nick Trappett for an inspection of the newly upgraded intersection of Weakleys Drive and John Renshaw Drive.

Work started just over a year ago to replace the roundabout with a new set of traffic lights which are already operating as the final touches are made to the site.

Blake Keating, Scot Macdonald and Nick Trappett

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.

Proposed Policy Changes For The Port Of Newcastle

BY JARROD MELMETH

The NSW Government have proposed changes to the Environmental Planning Policy at three Ports across the state.

Planning Minister Anthony Roberts announced yesterday policy changes for NSW's three largest seaports, Newcastle, Botany and Kembla, to streamline their operations.

Mr Roberts said the amendments give the port operators and their tenants the ability to undertake essential, day-to-day development on land within the lease areas more efficiently, subject to compliance with standards.

"Essential maintenance, installation of pollution control measures and other requirements of a working port will be able to be built under the exempt and complying development pathways.

"In addition, we are also protecting our ports from incompatible land-use encroaching on their sites and making it harder to go about their business," Mr Roberts said.

A container terminal at the Port of Newcastle has been a point of contention after it was revealed earlier this year the NSW Government had entered into an agreement meaning that if Newcastle was to build a container terminal, it would have to compensate Port Botany for any containers it handled above a limit of 30,000 a year.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald said the proposed changes would ensure Port land is protected for potential future expansion but does not set out provision for the possibility of a container port.

"It will protect the future of the Port of Newcastle. It is the primary bulk commodity port. It is already allowed to move a certain amount of containers as part of the agreement. In the future it means that those uses can continue," Mr MacDonald said.

The Department of Planning is calling on anyone interested in the amendments to review and comment on the proposed changes.

The Port of Newcastle. Image: NSW Mining.

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. 

Flood Mitigation Grants Up For Grabs

BY MATT JOHNSTON.

Hunter councils are being urged to apply for grants under the state government's 2018 Floodplain Management Program.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter, Scot MacDonald, said just because it's dry at the moment, doesn't mean we should be complacent.

The 2018 Floodplain Management Program is accepting submissions until April 27th to install flood-safety measures or buy back at-risk properties.

The program doubles investments put towards flood studies, risk management studies, and works such as levees and floodgates.

Scot MacDonald says it would be a wise investment from councils affected by floods to look into the program.

Last year nearly $9-million-dollars in grants were awarded to fund flood mitigation studies and structural works across the state under the program.

Mixed Reviews for Newcastle Bus Network

BY MATT JOHNSTON

The first weekday of Newcastle's new bus network has been met with mixed reactions from commuters.

Despite 1200 extra services on offer and increased frequency on certain routes, some passengers are wary of the changes.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter, Scot MacDonald, remains optimistic people can look past the teething pains to take advantages of the new services on offer.

He says it's the biggest shake-up to Hunter transport in a decade, and innovative features like buses on demand.

"It was really exciting to be on the first bus on Sunday. It's a service that you can now use in suburbs like Dudley, Mount Hutton, Whitebridge, Windale, Warners Bay, Eleebana, Gateshead and Charlestown. It's a great new service."

But the Uber-like Buses On Demand, and services to John Hunter Hospital every 15 minutes on certain routes, has some customers feeling left out.

Rail Tram and Bus Union division president David Woollams said the early feedback they've received has been mostly negative.

"A lot of the passengers are disappointed now that they don't have, in some areas, a direct service, that they do have to changes buses, that there's been more than about 200 bus stops removed right across the network."

"Some passengers are experiencing a 50-minute wait for connecting services."

But while this might lead to frustration, the union wants to remind people that it's not bus drivers who are to blame.

David Woollams hopes the network can be adapted to make public transport a more viable option, but he isn't optimistic that will be the case if buses and waiting for connections will take significantly longer than driving.

Photo: Downer Group

$750k for Dixon Park SLSC

BY MATT JOHNSTON

A partnership between the New South Wales government, Newcastle City Council, and the Dixon Park Surf Life Saving Club (DPSLSC) will see a raft of improvements for the club and its amenities on the Bathers Way walk.

Scot MacDonald, Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter, announced the $350,000 grant this morning alongside Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes, who added $250,000 from council. The remaining $150,000 will come from funds raised by the DPSLSC itself.

DPSLSC President Paul Murray said the club has seen a growth in membership and popularity as a venue since the opening of the Bathers Way coastal path. However, the renewed use of the site highlighted the 40-year-old amenities that are on offer.

Updates at the site are limited to the ground floor, where the changerooms and bathrooms will be upgraded and made more accessible for those with disabilities. A kitchen will be installed the increase the range of activities available at the venue.

Council will also be using this as an opportunity to create new storage areas for equipment.

Both Paul Murray and Scot MacDonald were pride to be to revitalising "iconic" elements of Newcastle's coastline. Modernising the facilities is key, given that a women's changeroom was overlooked in the original building plans 40 years ago.

Nuatali Nelmes she's happy to be contributing to new facilities which make sport more accessible and attractive to women.

Picture: Newcastle City Council

Farewell Beresfield Driver Reviver.

BY DANIELLE RIES

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald has thanked the Morisset Lions Club for their 30-year commitment and dedication to the Driver Reviver program.

The program has been operating for three decades, with the Morisset Lions Club spending 23 years operating the program at Beresfield.

The holiday period is one of the busiest times for the Driver Reviver program has volunteers hand out roughly 15 thousand cups of tea and coffee at the Beresfield Station.

From the first of January 2018, the program at Beresfield will be moved as construction work will be undertaken on the M1 Motorway to upgrade Weakley's Drive and the John Renshaw Drive intersection at Beresfield McDonalds.

Scot MacDonald says this program was and still is a great initiative.

"It's those caravans that you see on the side of the road, strategic points where people have been travelling for a couple of hours, that's when fatigue sets in. Of course, the one at Beresfield was one of the more better-known ones, it was at the end of the old F3 and now the M1.

"It really was an important point for people to get a stop there, have a cup of coffee or a cup of tea, have a chat, just get revived before they go on their long journey."

He also explains this program has been a vital initiative in saving many lives of motorists.

"They've probably saved many, many lives because fatigue is still one of our biggest killers. We've had a lot of improvements in roads and cars and all those sorts of things like RBT over the years.

"I think the Morisset Lions and all the other Lions clubs have done an absolutely magnificent community service over the years."

Scot MacDonald explains there will be other driver reviver stations still available.

"Unfortunately the space is unavailable but there are other rest stops available to the north and to the east."

Credit- Lions Club International Members Website.

Another Ferry Stop for Newcastle?

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Another ferry stop could be on the cards for Newcastle.

The Throsby Business Chamber surveyed their members to find out where they would like to see another ferry stop and found 54 per cent would like to see the ferry stop at Wickham.

Other respondents saw Carrington as another possible place for a stop which the chamber believes wouldn't be too much of a stretch because the ferries already moor there.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald said there have been a few ideas put forward and all of them are quite good.

"You'd have a ferry stop near Carrington or a little bit further up at Wickham and then join up with the Wickham/Newcastle Interchange and then that would go up to Queens Wharf. So there are a few ideas and a few options being looked at and considered."

The idea of another ferry stop isn't something that hasn't been thought of before, Scot said there is the consideration in both the 2056 Transport Plan and also in the Draft Greater Newcastle Metro Plan.

"It's always good to hear from the local community including the business community and it builds the case so this will be taken on board, this will be listened to and I'm grateful to the Throsby Business Chamber for going to this effort and putting the survey together," said Scot.

The business chamber says the demand for the ferry service has been proven, particularly during the Supercars Newcastle 500 two weeks ago and the use of the ferry service just between Queens Wharf and Stockton every day.

The survey results have been sent off to Transport Minister Andrew Constance.

Queens Wharf Image Wikipedia

Spat Overshadows Significant Step in Construction of new Maitland Hospital

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A traditional turning of the sod ceremony at the site of the new Maitland Hospital at Metford has been overshadowed by a spat between Maitland MP Jenny Aitchison and Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald.

In front of gathered media yesterday afternoon, Scot MacDonald made it abundantly clear he wasn't happy Jenny Aitchison was there.

He asked her if she was invited and said he wasn't "really happy" she was there because she'd been trying to derail the project for the last two years.

"She hadn't been invited to the sod turning so, you've got to be suited up, we said to her, were you invited, she said no. It's very clear it's not appropriate to have people on the site who are just there to cause mischief," said Scot MacDonald.

He toured the site with representatives from Health Infrastructure and Hunter New England Local Health District inspecting the preliminary work and looking at the concept design for the new hospital.

Concept design for new Maitland Hospital at Metford. Image supplied.

Jenny Aitchison has hit back this morning, accusing Scot MacDonald of spreading lies.

"There's no basis in fact of it, everyone knows that I have been in favour of the hospital for the last two years, the lobbying that I've done has actually secured another $50 million for the project than what the government promised in the first place,"

"It's ensured that the commencement of the works actually happened before the end of this year, something that the government earlier this year said would only start in 2018," said Jenny Aitchison.

Scot MacDonald makes no apologies and didn't back down, calling on Jenny to get on board with the plan because really it's too little too late.

"She's being led by her shadow minister who is actually potentially causing a roadblock to this so you know, my call would be to Jenny, get on board, its a very very large project, there have been enough delays the money is on the table, let us get on with it."

The State Government announced in July it would seek a not-for-profit organisation to operate the hospital and providers are being invited to give their proposals for the site in partnership with the NSW Government.

Jenny Aitchison said Scot MacDonald is just being a bully.

"He's been a bully from the start really and it was just interesting that finally, I guess the media was there when he's launched one of his tirades and that's all it is, there's no basis in fact with it, everyone knows I've been in favour of the hospital for the last two years."

A part from the shock war of words between the two parliamentarians, yesterday was a significant step forward for the hospital's construction.

The enabling works at the site being carried out by Donnelley Constructions Pty Ltd and is expected to be completed by the end of next year.

A new roundabout will be built on Metford Road as a part of the enabling works. Fencing and signage have been erected to establish the site and services will be upgraded including a new water main and the relocation of the above and below ground services such as gas main, power and communication cables.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald with Gavin Thompson, Project Director,
Health Infrastructure and Eddie Pirillo, Executive Lead - New Maitland Hospital, Hunter New England Local Health District

Blueprint for the Future of Newcastle

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A blueprint for the next 20 years of living in Newcastle has been created with everything from transport needs to housing.

The Draft Greater Metropolitan Plan has been released this morning looking forward to what the region should look like in 2036 and what challenges it presents.

Gary White, the NSW Chief Planner was in Newcastle this morning to announce the plan and said the city is a great example of one that has completely transformed from being just an industrial town.

"It's all about telling a story, a very exciting story about a city transforming itself from an industrial base into a new world economy over the next 30 years, it's a city which I believe will be talked about around the world as being an exemplary example of how a community transforms itself."

"When you start to hear things about cruise boats coming into your harbour when you start to hear about the strength that's coming out of the education sector, the strength that's coming out of health, your starting to see the front end of the very exciting process of the transformation of Newcastle," said Gary White.

The plan includes plans for the continued revitalisation of Newcastle, the growth of and our use of aerospace, and being strategic about the delivery of housing and jobs.

Local Mayors, Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald and
NSW Chief Planner Gary White at Fort Scratchley this morning.

Gary White says looking forward it's important to think strategically particularly when it comes to jobs.

"We need to create jobs in the right sectors, the sectors such as education, the sectors such as health an also recognising that there's a creative economy and a creative manufacturing economy. There are sectors associated with defence, they're all emerging, they're all opportunities that are presenting themselves for our future community as we go forward."

Greater Newcastle is expected to grow to 700,000 people in 2036 with the potential to continue growing well past that date.

"I believe in 10, 15, 20 years time people will be very proud to say they've come from Newcastle because I think it will be an exemplary example of a city that has transformed itself into a modern economy," said Gary White.

The plan is on exhibition until February 28 next year
http://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/Plans-for-your-area/Greater-Newcastle-metropolitan-planning 

Man Suffers Head Injuries after Car Rolls Several Times

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A man has suffered serious head injuries after his car rolled several times in Kurri Kurri overnight.

Police say at about 10:30 the Holden Rodeo Utility carrying three people was travelling south on Heddon Street when it turned right at the intersection of McLeod Road and lost control, rolling a number of times.

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter was called to the scene and flew a 21-year-old passenger to the John Hunter Hospital where he remains in a serious condition. He was unconscious at the time after the accident.

Another 21-year-old and a 19-year-old were also taken to the John Hunter Hosptial with minor injuries.

Government Adamant it's Short Term Pain for Long-Term Gain in Newcastle

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Newcastle's Light Rail Project is completely different to the Light Rail Project underway in Sydney's CBD according to the state government.

It's why they disagree businesses on Hunter Street should be given rental assistance to compensate for the disruption the project has caused.

Sydney's project on George Street has been drawn out for some time and the rental reprieve plan for businesses was announced in August after sustained pressure with the project running overtime by years in some sections. The businesses in the identified construction zones had to prove their financial losses to be eligible.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald said he knows businesses are struggling but it's not like the construction came with no warning.

"We told businesses as early as two years ago, that when this gets underway businesses will feel the pain, there's no question about it and at that time 18 months, 2 years ago I said people should be planning, they should be talking to their landlords, they should be talking to their customers and preparing themselves for it," said Scot MacDonald.

Some businesses in Hunter Street have reported losses of up to 30 per cent.

Hunter Business Chamber CEO Bob Hawes says he's not aware of the exact agreement Sydney businesses are in, but he feels Newcastle should be given the opportunity to have some rent relief.

"But we do believe that if the evidence is there and there is a strong case that can be built that we would hope the government would be objective enough to at least listen or look at it, and appreciate that there might be circumstance there that suggest it might be different to Sydney."

In the end, Scot MacDonald said it should be short time loss for a very long-term gain.

"look we'd like to believe that when we come out of this in 18 months or 2 years time or so since we are progressing through in blocks fairly quickly or reasonably quickly, that we come out at the end of and there is a city there, a CBD there, that people will delight coming to," said Scot MacDonald.

State Government Throwing Millions of Dollars into Stopping Food Waste

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Australians waste 400,000,000 tonnes of food each year, but now organisations in the Hunter can apply for grants to bring that figure down.

In a bid to cut down on the 345 kilograms of food Aussies throw out per household, the NSW Government is throwing millions of dollars worth of grants the Hunter's way to bring the waste down.

Councils and food relief agencies in the Hunter can apply for a share in $2 million in grants to help rescue surplus food before it gets sent to landfill.

Image www.foodwise.com.au

"Landfill is filling up prematurely which is obviously a problem for us as well, but if you can make better use of that surplus food, instead of just throwing it away help people who are in a difficult situation to meet those family budgets and meet the needs," said Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald.

Grants of up to $200,000 are available over two years to support local projects that raise awareness and improve education on food rescue.

The OzHarvest is a local organisation across Australia who collects quality excess food from commercial outlets and delivers it directly to more than 1000 charities supporting people in need across the country.

"Supermarkets do a really great job, instead of throwing it away they call these organisations that distribute it amongst the community that really needs it and importantly though they do need a lot of infrastructure I've noticed when you do visit the depots,"

They've got a lot of freezers, a lot of fridges, shelving all of those sorts of things and that's primarily what these grants are aimed at," said Scot MacDonald.

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

Williamtown Innovation Hub Officially Open

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The latest hub of innovation and technology has officially opened in Williamtown this morning.

The Williamtown Innovation Hub, also called "DSA-18", will support the research and development of new technologies for the defence industry.

It's a collaboration of the University of Newcastle with the support of the state government who contributed $1.5 million to the hub to drive innovation.

The hub has desks for both defence workers and university researchers, meeting rooms and will host networking events and seminars to provide opportunities for engagement with local and national companies in the defence, security, IT and transport sectors.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald says the innovation hub will make the latest technologies available to researchers to develop bigger and better things.

"It's really important that people have a place to incubate those ideas if you like and bounce them off colleagues who work in the industry and see if they're adaptable and see if the commercialisation is possible and that can only happen if you're working closely together," said Scot MacDonald.

The Hunter region's defence sector employs more than 4,600 people and contributes $1.3 billion to the region's economy.

"This will get the academics and professors working out the hub making themselves available to people who have got ideas that might be picked up by the defence industry. A lot of the innovation really does come from if you like, grassroots level," said Scot MacDonald.

Artists impression.

Funding To Cut Burglaries In Lake Macquarie

BY IAN CROUCH

The state government is proving almost $50,000 to Lake Macquarie Council to help cut the number of break-ins to homes.

Council will use the money for a crime prevention program which targets break-and-enter hot spots.

The funding is part of the $500,000 Safer Community Compact grants to help councils across NSW deliver grassroots solutions to crime.

"It's about empowering residents, there is a bit of that aspect to it, but it's really about improving community awareness and what you can do to protect your own home," Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter, Scot MacDonald says.

Residents will be shown how to use engraving tools to mark their valuables while 100 DataDot kits will be distributed which helps police in identifying, tracking and returning stolen property.

Fifty property marking kits will also be given away to residents whose homes are considered at risk of being broken into.

The latest crime statistics shows that the rate of burglaries in Lake Macquarie has dropped over the past four years, however there were still 734 recorded break-and-enters on homes in 2016.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald Announcing Crime Prevention Funding with Lake Macquarie City Council CEO Morven Cameron and Mayor Cr Kay Fraser

Return and Earn Reverse Vending Machine first in the Hunter

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The Hunter is now home to the first Return and Earn Reverse Vending Machine in the state in a bid to reduce waste.

The machine is located at the Woolworths in Medowie and it's as easy as putting in a container, and getting 10 cents back to give to a charity, or use at the local Woolies.

The state government will be rolling out more of the machines across the Hunter which will be in use from December 1. The NSW government is aiming to reduce waste by 40 per cent by 2020.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald says it's really quite a simple way to reduce the amount of litter on the streets in the Hunter.

"You put your container in, you get your payment or your voucher or your contribution to your charity and at the back of the vending machine there's a 20 foot container and all the material then goes into the back obviously to be collected by the waste industry," said Scot MacDonald.

The government says the machines present a massive logistical exercise which is why it's taking a little bit of time to get them all installed and up and running.

Scot MacDonald said they've been rolled out in South Australia already and so far, so good.

"It does make a material difference to the rubbish on the road that you see in the streets in your neighbourhood. So look it has got the runs on the board, we were talking to the installers there who've come over from Europe and they're saying it has a good track record in some of the European countries."

The containers eligible for the 10 cent refund include most containers between 150ml and three litres. Containers shouldn't be crushed or broken and have the original label attached to be eligible for the refund.

Final Consultation Sessions for Broadmeadow Redevelopment

BY SARAH BARONOWSKI

Hunter residents are being urged to have their say about the concept plan for Broadmeadow's Sports and Entertainment Precinct at the final community consultation sessions this weekend.

They'll be held on Sunday at Broadmeadow Showground for the Farmers Market between 10am and 12pm as well as the forecourt of McDonald Jones Stadium at 3:30pm.

The proposed concept plan is looking at ideas for the site's long-term future and issues that need to be addressed.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter, Scot MacDonald says they're looking for everybody to have their say.

"Whether you're interested in [the] sports side, the entertainment side, the transport side, the residential aspect to it -- we're looking for everybody's input. I think this is one of the next big exciting steps forward for Newcastle and the Hunter. This is really a chance now to hit the reset button and get the best overall concept to bring in all those elements."

He says this Sunday is the last opportunity for residents to provide feedback for this stage of the plan.

However, if people miss their chance there are other ways they can get involved.

"If you can't get down...you can still have a look at it on the website. Just go to Venues NSW and follow it to 'Concept Plan.' Just follow [the links] through," Mr. MacDonald said.

Concept Plan for Sports Precinct. [Image: Newcastle Herald]

To make a submission visit: http://www.venuesnsw.com/page/conceptplan  

Local MP's sidelined on Williamtown Contamination

BY SARAH BARONOWSKI

Paterson MP Meryl Swanson says "it's a disgrace" the NSW Government plans to exclude local MP's from the new Williamtown consultative group.

Yesterday, it was revealed an 'independent' committee will be established and members of the current Williamtown Elected Representative Group (ERG) won't be given a place.

The Government also announced plans to dissolve the ERG but Meryl Swanson says this won't stop her from continuing to defend her community.

She says the State Government is just trying to avoid answering the tough questions.

"This is an attempt by the State Government to try and shelve this, to push it back into the corner and push it back under the rug and it's not good enough. We won't have it.

"This is a disgrace and we are continuing to fight and we won't be silenced on this."

The Paterson MP also claims it's "poor form" for Parliamentary Secretary of the Hunter, Scot Macdonald to suggest the ERG isn't taking the Williamtown contamination issue seriously by listening to the concerns of residents.

Paterson MP Meryl Swanson

"I was affronted by Scot Macdonald's suggestion yesterday that our community concerns are not treated with sensitivity and confidentiality. I have never once breached the confidence of a meeting.

"That was particularly poor form to suggest that politicians would misrepresent members of the community. That is not accurate."

It is not currently known what role the new committee will play.

The Williamtown community has pushed back against this announcement, saying they want their local MP's to represent them on the issue.