A notice of motion by councillor Ian Olsen at Wednesday's council meeting regarding the new access road to Cessnock Correctional Centre lapsed due to lack of a seconder.
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But Cessnock mayor Bob Pynsent said it is because the general feeling amongst the councillors is that they have confidence in the steps state MP Clayton Barr has taken to put their case (for a new road to be built via Corrective Services and NSW Health land) forward.
Cr Pynsent said he had a "very positive" meeting with corrections minister Anthony Roberts, and would be requesting another meeting with in the next couple of weeks.
Council wrote to the NSW Government in March this year to request the new access road be built off Wine Country Drive, to take prison traffic off the local road network (including Lindsay Street and Kerlew Street).
Cr Olsen said he was disappointed that no other councillors chose to support his notice of motion, which he moved due to the pending completion of the jail expansion project.
Read more: Still no answers on prison road access
"We have had so much time to force the government into making a decision and now as they finish the expansion and are packing up to leave we don't have a new entry, we don't have a plan for a new entry and we don't have any commitment for a new entry," he said.
"To me, by not even debating the issue on Wednesday night is saying to the government we don't care which entry you use and you do what you like.
"I know the people of Lindsay Street area are enjoying having the entrance closed while they do drainage work on the current entry/exit road and would love it to stay closed.
"I have done all I can now and I thought the other two Ward B councillors would have supported my motion, but they sat quiet and said nothing.
"Let's hope the state government can come up with a plan, a timeframe and the money to do the right thing for the people of Cessnock."