Cessnock City Council will push for action to be taken on flooding issues at Testers Hollow, following the recent road closure on the main road between Cessnock and Maitland.
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A Mayoral Minute successfully moved by Cr. Bob Pynsent at last Wednesday night’s meeting asked for council to consult with the Department of Roads and Maritime Services to begin urgent work on Testers Hollow; to request that roads minister Duncan Gay inspect Main Road, Heddon Greta to investigate a solution to road closures during floods; and request that Member for Cessnock Clayton Barr make representation on behalf of council to Mr. Gay in regard to the issue.
Cr. Pynsent said the road needs to be raised above the flood level, and cited the Hunter Expressway’s imminent opening, possible future housing and transport to school among the reasons for making the road’s improvement a priority.
“Due to the recent flooding of Main Road, Cliftleigh, the road was closed. The Roads and Ports Minister needs to assess the flood mitigation options with the Hunter Expressway due for completion within months,” Cr. Pynsent said.
“With increased housing proposals on both Cessnock and Maitland sides of Testers Hollow greater pressure is predicted for this major transport link.
“When council approves housing developments it is essential that infrastructure matches the development for our fast growing community.”
School children who travel to Maitland for school were denied transport for more than a week when the road was closed due to the recent flood, he added.
Mr. Barr said he has already put a number of questions through Parliament.
“In essence I cannot emphasise enough the importance that road will have in linking the people of Kurri and surrounds to Maitland, and anyone who thinks differently is short sighted and narrow minded,” he said.
“At the least, we need to start planning and getting an understanding of the basis engineering – what is possible and what is doable.
“We also need to be able to understand the water catchment and sooner rather than later.
“These engineering operations don’t need to be expensive but it’s important that we have the conversation and put some rough figures on the table.
“I can remember as a child going to school in the ‘80s and the road would be closed two, three times a year so these things do carry on.
“But it is inconvenient at the moments but it will be a catastrophe in the future,” Mr. Barr said.
