Cessnock Airport Secures $6.6 Million Project Grant, Set to Create 60 New Jobs

BY ISABEL EVERETT

The State Government has granted Cessnock airport $6.6 million, with the upgrades set to create around 60 jobs, and see up to $32 million injected into the local economy over time. 

Cessnock City Mayor, Councillor Bob Pynsent says this will be an important boost to the local tourism industry, after being hard hit over the last six months. 

"We’re improving the experience for our visitors and increasing our opportunities when it comes to aviation as larger aircraft will be able to use the runway.”  

The Council is contributing $2.1 million dollars to the project, and Mr Piper says he hopes the project will transform the airport into one of the State’s top airports for general aviation.

"Its a significant project to revitalize the airport and recognize it's business opportunities," he says. 

"The Hunter regional plan recognizes Cessnock airport as the second airport to Newcastle, so it's quite a significant airport and we've now got the opportunity to further develop it and get a real return from it." 

"In emergency times, during the bush fires, the airport was of significant use, medical planes transport patients from there and there are maintenance facilities," Mr Piper says.

The project involves the extension and reconstruction of the runway, widening and resealing of taxiways and development of parking areas to allow a wider array of aircraft to land as well as the establishment of an aviation museum.

"Some people may not know that the airport was gifted to the people of Cessnock in the 1990’s and comes with a wealth of history from use in the 2nd World War, to having NASA undertake research at this facility," Mr Piper says.

There is currently no set date for the start of construction. 

"I'm hoping as soon as possible, we've been siting on this for 3 years so were definitely shovel ready," Mr Piper says. 

"We can now transform this facility and future proof it for our community.”

Wallsend misses out again

BY JARROD MELMETH

The NSW State Government are being accused of halting progress on flood mitigation works in Wallsend after an application for funding to the Office of Environment and Heritage was denied.

In 2007, prior to the June long-weekend floods, Newcastle City Council produced a draft plan warning that Wallsend was at serious risk of catastrophic flooding – saying that floodwaters could rise to several metres in just minutes. 

The Wallsend electorate has applied to the Office of Environment and Heritage for a long time to assist with rebuilding bridges in the area, which has also been promised under the re-elected Newcastle Labor government in the lead up to the local council elections earlier this month.

State Member for Wallsend Sonia Hornery said the application was put to the State Government for funds to undertake the Wallsend Flood Mitigation Plan.

"The Wallsend Flood Mitigation Plan is about looking at steps to ensure that when we do receive flash flooding - and it will happen again in Wallsend - that we can prevent a loss of life and loss of businesses," Ms Hornery said.

Although the Labor Party held government when the 2007 floods occurred, Ms Hornery said under the Labor Government they were only able to complete studies before losing office in 2011.

"Decisions about what we really needed to do only really occurred when the Liberal Party took power in 2011, and the reason for that is, we experienced the flooding in mid-2007, and then we undertook a series of very complex studies into what needed to be done and what the answers and solutions were. That took a few years and so by that time the Liberal Government were elected," Ms Hornery said.

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."

State prison funding needed elsewhere

BY SARAH BARONOWSKI

The NSW Law Society has expressed concern with the State Government's increase in funding for NSW prisons.

Under the State's budget boost, $3.8 billion will be given to NSW prisons over the next four years.

As part of these funds, prisons will receive new beds with 620 being given to Cessnock Gaol in an attempt to cater to a rising prison population.

According to the Law Society of NSW President, Gary Ulman not enough funds are being given to the wider criminal justice system.

"Money could be better spent on alternative methods of dealing with crime," he said. "They're (the State) is not putting a lot of money into the legal system.

"What we need are more resources being put into the criminal justice system to reduce the delays in hearing criminal matters and therefore the time spent on remand, and to increase accessibility to diversionary options in appropriate circumstances."

Mr. Ulman said that while there will certainly be cases where custodial sentences are appropriate, other viable alternatives to imprisonment are still needed.

"There are many crimes committed that don't warrant custodial sentences and community service orders are a way of dealing with that," he said.

"It costs a lot of money to house a prisoner. It's a huge impost on the economy of the state."

Image: Cessnock Gaol
Source: [www.theherald.com.au]