PROTESTERS against the termination of Newcastle’s heavy rail line at Wickham have expressed disappointment the government wants the existing line removed by the March 2015 state election.
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State Planning and Infrastructure Minister Brad Hazzard told a luncheon in Newcastle last week he wanted to see the plans and implementation of the Wickham interchange ‘‘within the next two years’’.
The government announced last December it would cut the existing rail line west of Stewart Avenue and use buses to shuttle people to the eastern precincts of the CBD.
Mr Hazzard’s comments last Friday were the first time the government has indicated a firm timeline for the rail line’s removal.
President of Save Our Rail Joan Dawson said it was ‘‘horrifying’’ to hear the proposed plan could be rubber-stamped and even completed within such a timeframe.
‘‘We feel disappointed because we had a meeting with Mr Hazzard in January,’’ she said.
‘‘We had an hour and a half with him and we felt we were listened to and we got the impression it wasn’t over.
‘‘In light of that conversation we now want to speak with Barry O’Farrell.
‘‘We believe there have been hasty steps taken – the government has been ill-advised.’’
Hunter Development Corporation chief executive Bob Hawes said last month a multi-agency steering group would be formed to implement the government’s plans.
The resolution of the long-running Newcastle rail line debate is not only necessary for the revitalisation of central Newcastle but also the implementation of an integrated Lower Hunter transport plan.
The Lower Hunter discussion paper, launched on Friday, noted many Lower Hunter public transport services were under-utilised.
The government wants to increase the share of commuter trips made by public transport to 20per cent by 2016.
