WED 22 OCT 2014
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All your shopping needs at Belmont Central p.5
Taking a stand Newcastle by-election candidates deliver their plans for city’s future AMELIA PARROTT
Radio Birdman
Newcastle gig to kick-off tour
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A-League 2014/15 Late goal hurts Jets again p.25
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reens candidate for Newcastle, Michael Osborne says if elected this weekend, he will spend the next five months working on a community-endorsed plan for Newcastle’s future. Mr Osborne said the document, dubbed the Newcastle Strategy, would be created through community consultation and cover the revitalisation of the CBD, public transport, cycleways, job creation, health and education. “The important thing for me, if I’m elected, is to be out in the community, pulling together all the community views and getting a consensus,” Mr Osborne said. “When the next election comes in March we can have a document that we can agree on, that is the Newcastle Strategy.” Addressing voters at last week’s debate at South Leagues Club, Mr Osborne also called for the formation of a Hunter Transport Authority and for Newcastle to get the full share of proceeds from the lease of the port. “The port was built in Newcastle by Newcastle people and we’re the ones who have put up with the pollutions from the port,” he said. “We should get all of those funds for the revitalisation of Newcastle.” NSW Labor has stated that if it wins Government in March, it will pump half of the port proceeds, $750 million, into Hunter infrastructure projects like fixing traffic congestion at the Adamstown railway gates. The Baird Government has committed $340
Newcastle by-election candidates Milton Caine (Christian Democratic Party), Karen Howard (Independent) and Jennifer Stefanac (Palmer United Party-supported Independent) at last week’s debate at South Leagues Club million of the proceeds to Newcastle’s revitalisation. CBD revitalisation dominated discussion at the debate last Wednesday night. Christian Democratic Party candidate, Milton Caine, Labor candidate, Tim Crakanthorp and Mr Osborne each spoke in favour of retaining the heavy rail line into the city, while Hawks Nest -based Independent, Brian Buckley Clare urged the Premier, Mike Baird, to “butt-out” of the rail debate until the general election in March. Independents Jacqueline Haines and Karen
Howard both wanted to see the rail line cut, but Ms Howard stressed that she would like to see the corridor preserved as “green space” and the Government’s light rail plans extended to include the University of Newcastle campus at Callaghan, hospitals and Hunter Stadium. Socialist Alliance candidate, Steve O’Brien spoke against privatising state-owed assets, while Palmer United Party-backed Independent, Jennifer Stefanac kept her discussions to issues of social justice. Newcastle voters will go to the polls this Saturday.
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