State Member for Cessnock Clayton Barr, Shadow Minister for Roads Ryan Park and Mayor of Cessnock Bob Pynsent, have called on the State Government to give Cessnock its fair share by allocating funding to fix the flooding issues at Testers Hollow.
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Mr. Park came to Cessnock recently by invitation of Mr. Barr, so that he could see for himself the issue at Testers Hollow, where flooding has repeatedly caused the road to close in recent years.
Mr. Barr said the minister’s visit was part of an ongoing campaign to solve the problem.
“This issue continues to affect our community, as heavy rain cuts Cessnock off from Maitland,” he said.
“Aren’t we living in the 21st century?
“We’ve got the Hunter Expressway coming, we can’t afford to have a trouble spot like this.
“Robyn Parker is not only the Member for Maitland but also a cabinet minister, yet she has shown she won’t do anything about it.
“I’m going to be vocal.
“The community needs to stand up and demand that the Government fix this problem.”
Mr. Park said the Resources for Regions scheme was not assisting all mining related areas.
“The Resources for Regions program is specifically for places like Maitland and Cessnock that are affected by mining, and we will be pushing for the government to give both places their fair share,” Mr. Park said.
“Councils need more money to help maintain their roads that are being affected by increased mining traffic and they are struggling to do this.
“The government cannot ignore this issue – it has to step in and help.”
Mr. Park also called on NSW Minister for Roads, Duncan Gay, to visit Testers Hollow and make a decision on what needs to be done, describing the road as a very unique piece of infrastructure.
“He as the minister needs to come out here and see what has happened and what can be done to fix it,” Mr. Park said.
“The least he can do is come down with some staff and spend time to make sure that the RMS exhausts every option.
“The community deserves at least that and to have every available option looked at and sooner rather than later.”
Cr. Pynsent said Cessnock was struggling to get its share of roads funding.
“Heavy vehicles are using our roads to travel to and from the mines and they are putting them in disrepair, yet the government won’t give us any money to fix them,” he said.
“We are affected by mining and we deserve a portion of the money to help pay to maintain our roads.”
Mr. Park was also taken on a tour of other problem areas, including the pedestrian crossing on Cessnock Road, Abermain and intersections at Aberdare Road and Quarrybylong Street, Cessnock and at Nelson Street and the New England Highway, Greta.
