GPT had previously said it would only proceed if the heavy inner-city rail line was removed or redeveloped to allow access from its Hunter Street Mall precinct to the harbour.

Mr Cameron said on Wednesday the development company would be happy with a light rail concept if that was the state government’s preferred option.

Save Our Rail president Joan Dawson said her group would accept light rail as an additional service, not as a replacement for heavy rail, also suggesting building over the top of the rail corridor.

Paul Murphy from the Fix Our City group labelled Mrs Dawson’s comments yesterday as ‘‘irrational, marginal and not grounded in reality’’.

‘‘They [Save Our Rail] have no viable, practical strategy for the future of the Newcastle CBD,’’ Mr Murphy said.

‘‘And they have completely and utterly confirmed the community’s perception that they are not the slightest bit interested in really revitalising the Newcastle CBD.

‘‘Now is the time to stop listening to this minority group. The majority has clearly spoken.

‘‘We all want to see the city come back to life.’’

Mr Cameron said he was confident the GPT development would go ahead despite the comments from the Save Our Rail Group.

‘‘We will continue to work with all the interested parties and I suspect the support is there,’’ Mr Cameron said.

‘‘We are looking for some certainty from the state government on the way forward so we can get on with it or move on.’’