Residents fear for their safety along McKeachies Drive

BY JESSICA ROUSE

McKeachies Drive in Aberglassyn is feeling more like a race track these days, with residents fearing for their safety along the stretch of road.

The road has become a hot spot for drivers recklessly ignoring the 50km/h speed limit, and residents say it seems to be a race to see who can hit 80km/h the fastest.

One woman had a near miss last week with a driver almost colliding with her head on, as they drove fast enough to start crossing onto her side of the road.

The incident was caught on her dashcam and has sparked a tirade of comments from many residents who fear for their safety.

Many people who live along the road don't even let their children in the front yard to play with fears a car could mount the curb at any moment.

Lake Macquarie Council's Brian Bell retires

BY JESSICA ROUSE

After a career in local government spanning fifty years, the General Manager of Lake Macquarie Council Brian Bell announced his retirement yesterday.

The 68-year-old has spent the last 11 years at the council working with a total of three mayors, and four councils.

Mr Bell's service to local government was recognised in the Australia Day Honours Awards in January 2016, with the now former general manager receiving a public Service Medal.

"I have been fortunate in my 11 years at Lake Macquarie to work with stable, considered and courageous councils that have worked for the greater good of the people of Lake Macquarie," Mr Bell said.

Brian Bell. Image www.lakesmail.com.au

"My time here has been exceptionally rewarding and I have enjoyed every moment, but it is now time for someone else to take the Council into the next decade and beyond."

The council will run a recruitment process to find a replacement for Mr Bell with his retirement is effective from the end of June.

Newcastle MP says affordable housing in rail corridor isn't enough

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Among the announcements made by the state government for Newcastle transport yesterday, was thirty affordable home units to be built on a section of the former rail corridor.

The housing would cater for low to middle income earners such as emergency service workers and teachers, but Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp believes while it will help them, it simply isn't enough to meet the city's housing needs.

Buying a first home is becoming more and more difficult, and the MP says even the government admitted thirty isn't enough.

"It's never been harder to buy your own home and this government has had six long years to address housing affordability. Thirty units is a drop in the ocean to address the crisis to date. The government has admitted that it is not enough and with the city growing rapidly we really need to see the rest of the plan."

Tim Crakanthorp also said while the government want to make cities better, they're not making it easier for people to live in them. Instead they're forcing first home buyers to buy outside of the city due to rising house prices and the limited number of housing available in the city.

Parking is a constant battle in the city and with around 280 spots set to go in the city centre when construction begins on the light rail, Tim Crakanthorp says the parking problem won't just stop there.

"The government still needs to reveal where commuters will be able to park at the interchange, unless they're right on the line, I don't think the number of people they're projecting will be going on it,"

"Good public transport needs to be safe and close and accessible and we need to expand this light rail if we want to get this kind of accessibility".

Maitland median strips need attention

BY RACHEL STORER

Councillor Philip Penfold on an overgrown media strip in Maitland. Image: maitlandmercury.com.au

Median strips in Maitland are being neglected by the Roads and Maritime Service says Councillor Philip Penfold.

Residents have been making constant complaints to council about the overgrown state of the New England Highway that runs through the city.

Councillor Penfold said the RMS allocation to maintain the highway median strips is insufficient and the job should be given to the council.

"The council don't own the highway or the median strip, but I think it's time the council take that over," he said.

"We need to make sure this centrepiece of our beautiful city is enhanced and kept to a proper standard".

Cr Penfold says the state of the highway was particularly disappointing over the Easter weekend with many visitors in the city.

"I think the RMS should adequately fund [the council] so we can make sure the city is kept to the standard that the residents expect."

Transport Minister makes big announcements for Newcastle

BY RACHEL STORER

The Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Andrew Constance was today in Newcastle to join the Minister for Planning, Anthony Roberts and Parliamentary Secretary, Scot MacDonald for a press conference regarding the revitalisation of the city.

Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Andrew Constance.

Mr Constance made two announcements today: the first about the Newcastle light rail and the second about "The Store" site on Hunter Street.

Newcastle will be home to an exciting Australian first - wire-free light rail.

"This is technology tried and tested overseas in places like France. The energy for the vehicle will be stored onboard and there will be charge points at the stations," Mr Constance said.

"It means Hunter Street won't have any overhead wiring and that will add to the aesthetic value of the Hunter Street precinct."

Mr Constance followed this with the announcement that the "The Store" site on Hunter Street is being taken to market, gathering expressions of interest on how best to use the space.

The state government bought the site in 2015 and has remained practically silent on its plans until now.

"My expectations are to look for the best use but also incorporate a bus and coach interchange, coupled with some commercial opportunities which will, of course, interface incredibly well with the new Wickham interchange," Mr Constance said.

"We'll see the old, run-down car park being removed along with some of the dilapidated, old buildings and that will enable us to progress with the new precinct."

Mr Constance said he was very excited and pleased to be able to make these announcements today.

Affordable housing for former rail corridor

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The state government has unveiled plans to use part of the former rail corridor in Newcastle for public use, and specifically for affordable housing.

Minister for Planning and Housing Anthony Roberts was joined by Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance in Newcastle this morning to make the announcement.

NSW Government program Revitalising Newcastle put forward the plan which would see 30 homes built between Mereweather Street and the former Civic Station, for low to middle income earners.

The proposal allows for one, two and three-bedroom family affordable homes for moderate income workers from emergency services, to youth workers.

Anthony Roberts says it gives hard workers a go and gives those, "on low to moderate incomes a leg up and helps them to work towards their housing goals, be it home ownership or ongoing private rental".

The concept was put to the council's Building Better Cities (BBC) Committee to use $3 million dollars allocated by the government some time ago and put it towards something extremely beneficial.

At this stage, the housing proposal project will be funded through pooling of government resources by combining Hunter Development Corporation and the Newcastle City Council's affordable housing funding, which is waiting on approval from council, which should be decided at the next general meeting.

"Newcastle isn't going to be the place it was 10 years ago. Newcastle is moving towards a new and vibrant city. A city with professionals, trades people, and different types of individuals," said Anthony Roberts.

"We're already seeing the reformation of Newcastle, we're already seeing it rake great bold new steps  from where it was a decade ago and there's a lot more to do."

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot Macdonald also joined the ministers for the announcement this morning, and is in full support of the plan which he believes will create more diversity within the city centre.

He says, "from my perspective it's delivering on what Minister Stokes said we were going to do last year (when the rail corridor was closed), that it was gonig to be a mix of private, public and green space and this very much delivers".

A facelift for Warners Bay foreshore

BY JESSICA ROUSE and GARY JON-LYSAGHT

Works are starting today on a major upgrade to Warners Bay foreshore, including new park benches, trees and even glow-in-the-dark pavers.

The works are all part of Lake Macquarie council's master plan for the foreshore, aiming to bring new life into the area which can see more than a thousand visitors every day.

Mayor Kay Fraser believes the upgrades will hugely benefit the area and bring even more people to the foreshore.

"There's a whole lot of works happening over the next year or two that's going to really activate the foreshore and bring people to the city and spend money. It will be good for business, and good for families wanting to go somewhere different and relax and enjoy the water."

Warners Bay foreshore plan.

The works will promote the beauty of the city with a blue pavement section in the plans, to represent the Lake, with a blue additive which will glow-in-the-dark.

"It's a dark blue and it'll be a real eye catcher," said Mayor Jay Fraser.

"We've also started that sandstone wall, so we're going to have 65m of that continuing along the foreshore. We will also have 500m2 of garden bed and because there's so many people using Warners Bay we're going to put an additional 30 new park benches in as well."

During construction, pedestrian access will be maintained along the foreshore, however there will be some sections closed off to the public throughout the construction.

To stay up to date head to www.lakemac.com.au