THE Baird government’s Newcastle light rail project is “short, late land lazy,” according to Hunter state Labor MPs Tim Crakanthorp and Kate Washington.
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Mr Crakanthorp, the member for Newcastle, said the government was prepared to spend $1 billion on 22 kilometres of light rail for Parramatta and $2.1 billion on 12 kilometres of light rail for the Sydney CBD, yet it was only prepared to build 2.7 kilometres of light rail for Newcastle.
“This Government has sold our port, sold our poles and wires and is selling our public transport system, the least they can do is use some of that money to create a network that goes to the employment, education and retail nodes in the city,” Mr Crakanthorp said.
Ms Washington, the member for Port Stephens, said it was important that the community gave feedback to the government’s Review of Environmental Factors for the light rail project, which is set to be made public on Thursday.
“The Hunter needs an integrated transport network which connects employment hubs of Newcastle, Glendale, Wallsend and Maitland to suburbs throughout the Hunter,” Ms Washington said.
“The Government has refused to listen to sensible alternatives which will deliver a better system for Newcastle.”
Light rail is also on the menu at a Property Council of Australia lunch on Thursday at Newcastle City Hall, with speakers including Keolis Downer chief executive Benedicte Colin.
