Home Property Australia MAINTAIN THE MOMENTUM

MAINTAIN THE MOMENTUM

  • September 14, 2017

The Property Council of Australia’s Hunter Director, Andrew Fletcher, is gearing up for Monday night’s Public Voice session at Newcastle Council, where he will urge Councillors to endorse UrbanGrowth NSW’s planning proposal for rail corridor land between Worth Place and Watt Street.

He said it was critical to maintaining momentum on the city’s transformation program.

Fletcher also highlighted that Councillors were “not being asked to give a final stamp of approval – this is about moving on with the gateway process and the next round of community consultation.”

“Last week the Council sent shockwaves through the investment community when they put the NSW Government’s vision for Newcastle on ice.”

The motion, to “lay the item on the table”, was to allow a public voice session for residents, further briefings from UrbanGrowth NSW and consideration of the Government’s transport plan.”

Fletcher said that after Monday night there would be nothing preventing the Councillors from voting to move forward.

“UrbanGrowth NSW will have provided the latest updates, up to 12 community members from both sides of the debate will have had their say at Public Voice and Councillors will have studied the NSW Government’s Hunter Regional Transport Plan which was released in March 2014.”

“It’s so important that delivery of the light rail network be in-sync with public domain upgrades along the old heavy rail corridor”

“We need those things to work hand-in-glove for a truly connected and liveable city.”

Fletcher said that “Councillors sitting on their hands to score cheap political points” risked further state infrastructure spending in the city and would jeopardise the $2 billion investment pipeline which is fuelling jobs and growth.

“The last thing Novocastrians want is for the corridor to become another Post Office – boarded up, inaccessible and rotting – while the shiny new trams roll by.”

 “The Lord Mayor has displayed outstanding civic leadership in recent days, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the Premier on $90 million worth of various funding announcements.”

“We need more of that – now’s the time to push on with transforming that post industrial rail corridor into the spine of a world-class regional capital and tourism destination”.

Other speakers in favour of the proposal are believed to be NBN’s former Sports Director, Mike Rabbit, Sista Code founder Melissa Histon and local businesswoman Alana Dagwell.

Media contact:  Andrew Fletcher  | M  0407 410 017  |  E  [email protected]

Maintain the Momentum

UrbanGrowth NSW has urged Newcastle City Council not to succumb to “fear” or “ideology” in a public plea to councillors to allow development on the former rail corridor.

In a packed council meeting on Monday night, UrbanGrowth NSW program director Michael Cassel said the views of the government’s detractors “did not reflect the majority” and most wanted the old heavy rail corridor to be overhauled.

The Property Council also weighed in on the debate, warning that continued delays to the project would stifle investment.

Hunter Director Andrew Fletcher quoted a 1973 edition of the Newcastle Herald, which carried the headline “City Must Know”, referring to uncertainty on the future use of the rail line.

“Yet here we are, 43 ½ years after that headline appeared and still, the City Must Know.

Mr Fletcher said business demanded certainty on the issue, warning that investors would avoid the city “in droves” if a decision was delayed.

After the meeting, which heard from 15 speakers for and against the proposal over three hours, he said there was now nothing preventing the Councillors from voting for prosperity, jobs and a stronger community.

“It’s so important that delivery of the light rail network be synchronised with public domain upgrades along the old heavy rail corridor”

“We need those things to work hand-in-glove for a truly connected and liveable city.”

“The last thing Novocastrians want is for the corridor to be consigned to the same fate as our heritage icon (Newcastle Post Office) – boarded up, inaccessible and rotting.”

“Now’s the time to push on with transforming that post industrial rail corridor into the spine of a world-class regional capital and tourism destination”.

The next generation was raised numerous times during Monday night’s debate as a reason why the corridor should be rezoned.

In an unusual speech that touched on his experience as an Uber driver, Newcastle man James Thomson said youth unemployment was one of the biggest issues in the city.

“As a young person I have struggled to see my young friends gain employment,” he said. “How can you in good conscience object to a project that would create 600 jobs? Opposing the rezoning is opposing the people.”

Another speaker, Scott Sharpe, said “we need to think about the young people of our city”.

“Most of the people who are protesting are my age or older,” he said.

Veteran NBN sports presenter Mike Rabbitt said Newcastle had the chance to transform from a former steel city to an innovation hub.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said all speakers had given the councillors “food for thought”.