Since the Cessnock Correctional Centre expansion project was announced in 2016, the community has been calling for the entry to the prison complex to be removed from Cessnock's residential streets.
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So the news that the Department of Corrections has withdrawn its offer to build a new access road to the complex has been met with great disappointment by residents of Hospital Hill, particularly those living on Lindsay Street and Mavis Street.
The expansion has more than doubled the inmate population at the complex, bringing with it hundreds of extra staff, contractors and visitors.
The Department of Corrections began investigating options for a new entry in 2017, while residents of Lindsay and Mavis Street and the surrounding area have put up with the large increase in traffic, which they say starts at 5am daily.
Cessnock City Council's preferred option for a new entry, via Wine Country Drive and Calvary and NSW Health land, was ruled out due to the impact on critical infrastructure and the aged care facility.
The Department of Corrections' preferred option, via Kerlew and Occident Street was met with opposition by the Nulkaba community, who feared their neighbourhood would become subject to rat-runs.
The residents' group presented an alternative option via woodland at the rear of the cemetery, which was also ruled out due to the impact on endangered ecological communities.
The Department of Corrections' preferred option was brought back to council as the "final option" on March 18, and council requested a number of conditions - including mitigation measures for safety, security, and to isolate the entry route from the local road network - before it would agree to endorse the government's option.
In a letter to council's general manager Lotta Jackson, corrections minister Anthony Roberts said the conditions council requested were "not acceptable and not feasible", and therefore he would withdraw Corrections' offer, with access to remain at Lindsay Street.
Mavis Street resident John Sharples said while it was "extremely disappointing" news, he remained hopeful that the minister would reconsider his decision.
"I was gutted to hear it; my stomach churned over," he said.
"I'm hoping the government might change its mind, or that the council might go back cap in hand and say 'Sorry, we'll be happy with what you give us'."
Mr Sharples was the Mavis Street representative on the community consultative committee for the jail expansion project. He said the Lindsay Street entrance was always the first item on the agenda, as a standing point, at every meeting in the committee's three-year run.
"Over 100 private residences will be directly impacted if Mavis and Lindsay Streets continue as the main access," he said.
"This will add extra traffic onto local roads at the expense of the citizens of Cessnock."
Lindsay Street resident Simon Philpot said he has witnessed not just large volumes of traffic, but also an increase in poor driver behaviour.
"We are also seeing cars and motor bikes speeding along the road and in some cases doing wheelies and burn outs," he said.
"The increased noise, which wakes me up at 5am every morning, has become a big issue and the same noise nuisance applies to late afternoon return run."
Mr Philpot said he was in favour of moving the correctional centre entrance elsewhere and blocking off the existing access, but if that does not happen now, he suggested traffic calming measures such as a reduced speed limit and speed humps, need to be put in place.
Ted Bennett, of Mavis Street, called on the government to reinstate its plans for the Nulkaba entry - which it agreed to support and fund, in principle, in November 2019.
"It's hard not to feel petty in these times to ask any government to spend money on any non-coronavirus concern. That being said, it's not unreasonable to ask for other concerns to be delayed rather than totally scrapped," Mr Bennett said.
"I also call on Cessnock councillors to work together for the community in this regard to obtain the best outcome for ratepayers.
"A solution that takes traffic away from all residential properties should be supported without opposition."
Green Option Access spokesperson Craig Findley said the Nulkaba residents' group was also disappointed with the decision to retain the Lindsay Street entrance.
"We don't take this as a win; no-one from the Green Option Access group wanted it to remain at Lindsay Street," he said.
"That was never the name of our game.
"We just want a route that will, forever and a day, be isolated from residential areas.
"We are as upset by anyone by this.
"It needs to be fixed for generations to come."
Council plans to request a meeting with the Minister. This will be considered by councillors at its April 15 meeting.
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Krystal Sellars
Krystal Sellars is the Senior Journalist at the Cessnock Advertiser. Born and raised in Cessnock, she started her journalism career at the Advertiser in 2006 after completing a Bachelor of Communication at the University of Newcastle. Contact her on krystal.sellars@cessnockadvertiser.com.au.
Krystal Sellars is the Senior Journalist at the Cessnock Advertiser. Born and raised in Cessnock, she started her journalism career at the Advertiser in 2006 after completing a Bachelor of Communication at the University of Newcastle. Contact her on krystal.sellars@cessnockadvertiser.com.au.
