PREMIER Nathan Rees triggered widespread condemnation yesterday by declaring the NSW Government would develop another transport
strategy for the Hunter, which business leaders estimated would be the 31st of its
kind.
His announcement came at the Hunter State Plan feed
back meeting at Maitland, one day before all the trains
across the Hunter network ground to a standstill.
The Hunter Business Chamber called the situation
``ludicrous''.
No trains will run across the region for the weekend due to maintenance work, leaving buses to take the entire commuter load for 48 hours.
Civic leadersloudly interejected at the prospect of another round of consultations for yet another
strategy
But Mr Rees said it was about setting goals.
``Transport has been identified as a clear priority for the Hunter, so we'll be building on our already extensive
transport commitments in the Hunter and developing a
strategy in 2010 that deals specifically with local trans
port issues,'' he said.
The region was still waiting for the Government to act on the Hunter Development Corporation's renewal plan
for the city, which recommended cutting the Newcastle rail line at Wickham.
A spokeswoman for the Premier said that decision
would not be delayed by the new transport strategy,
rather it was subject to its own scoping study
But criticism of the new study came from all corners,
including from within Mr Rees's own Government.
Cessnock MP Kerry Hickey and Charlestown MP Mat
thew Morris questioned when the Government would
build the infrastructure.
Mr Morris said the announcement was like
groundhog day.
``I'm staggered that we are going to go through the whole process again for a study that will likely tell us what we already know,'' Mr Morris
said.
``We know what the priorities are, we know Glendale is the top one. My constituents have had enough talking, they want the works to start.''
Lake Macquarie MP and Mayor Greg Piper called it
``pathetic'' and Hunter Business Chamber chief executive Peter Shinnick poured scorn on the decision.
``If the Premier goes back through his records he will
see there was a transport strategy done in 2005,'' Mr
Shinnick said.
``It was a very good strategy developed for the Hunter and it was never publicly released but it was a very
comprehensive and thorough document.
``We have seen it. There have been something like 30
transport studies done on the Hunter, which all make simi
lar recommendations.''
Newcastle Lord Mayor John Tate said ``the whole of
the Hunter is being treated as though we are fools''.
``The fact of the matter is they are re-sleepering the
line. That says to me there is little chance the Government will act on the [Hunter Development Corporation] report,'' Cr Tate said.
"They are spending large
amounts of money on that line
and they wouldn't do that if
they were going to pull it out.
At this rate we are going to
lose GPT and that is a
tragedy.''
Port Stephens Liberal MP Craig Baumann said Mr
Rees should buy a copy of the Sims computer game so
he could build virtual cities on his own time, not the
Hunter's
"I call it virtual because none of this stuff is getting built in the real world,'' Mr Baumann said.
Minister for the Hunter Jodi McKay said the study
was a small part of the state plan document and would
complement Sydney's transport blueprint.
``I'm sure if the Hunter's transport needs weren't
included in this planning process then the same people
would be up in arms about that,'' Ms McKay said.
``This is something that the Hunter community asked for as part of the state plan
consultation process.
``We're simply following up on this community senti
ment.''
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