The public gallery was fit to burst at Wednesday night’s council meeting, with concerned residents eager to see the matter debated after Councillor Ian Olsen tabled a notice of motion to rescind any prior motions relating to the Cessnock Correctional Centre and that council support the community’s preferred option of using the existing road from Wine Country Drive through state land and the now defunct Allandale Nursing Home site.

Councillor Olsen’s motion was passed unanimously with a raft of amendments, namely – that council notes that access is a matter to be determined by NSW Justice Infrastructure, and that council supports the residents and Cessnock MP Clayton Barr, preferred option of a direct route from Wine Country Drive.

It was also decided that council reject the three options presented by NSW Justice Infrastructure and that the current access via Lindsay and Mavis streets be closed.

Council also resolved to request that Mr Barr convene regular consultation meetings with Justice Infrastructure and the local community.

Council will also write to Federal Member for Hunter Joel Fitzgibbon and Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald to request their support. 

It was also decided that council rescind point two of a resolution from its meeting of February 7 this year which referenced Kerlew Street access.

Mayor Bob Pynsent said that council rejected the three options put forward based on feedback from the community.

“The current access route through Lindsay Street and Mavis Street is not suitable,” Cr Pynsent said.

“Council supports residents impacted in this area and would like to see this route closed and a new route established using the state road network. 

“We know residents of Nulkaba are extremely concerned as Kerlew Street has been identified as another viable option.

“We don’t want to see the access moved from one local road to another. Rate payers will again be forced to foot the bill of ongoing road maintenance.”

Cr Pynsent added that, as a member of the Cessnock Correctional consultative committee, he was determined to secure a workable solution for all.

Nulkaba resident David Shearer said he and the other affected residents in attendance were heartened by Wednesday’s council meeting.

“It was all pretty positive,” he said. “Everyone seemed pretty happy with council’s response, and it’s positive that everyone seems to be on board.”

Mr Shearer added that residents were now looking to Mr Barr for the best way forward. 

“We are definitely happy that everyone seems to be on board and now we are just looking to Clayton for a bit of guidance,” he said.

“But we are really looking forward to council’s continued involvement to help resolve the issue.”

Mr Shearer and the residents of Nulkaba’s hopefulness came despite the fact that Department of Justice infrastructure executive director, Greg Lake, said at this time, the state land option was one that wasn’t considered viable 

Mr Lake did add however, that the department was eager to work with council and the community to find an  option that was workable for all.

Mr Shearer added that community concern over the proposed access had reached fever pitch in recent weeks, thanks to a public meeting held recently and the circulation of an online petition (https://chn.ge/2x7HQnj) to push for the community’s preferred option through state land.

The goal was to reach 723 signatures, but, that figure has been well and truly eclipsed, with more than 1200 people, across the Cessnock LGA signing their names.

Speaking to the Advertiser last week, Mr Barr said he struggled to find a reason as to why the state land option wasn’t viable.

“There’s nothing that’s insurmountable, it’s all a matter of will,” he said.

“For the Snowy Hydro scheme they flooded the old town of Jindabyne – they moved an entire town of people for the scheme.”