The NSW Budget has missed key local projects in the Maitland electorate, such as an upgrade to Lochinvar Police Station, a ramp for Martin’s Creek Railway Station and funding to ease traffic congestion at Maitland roundabouts, said Hunter based MLC Robyn Parker.

“These are three local projects that the Member for Maitland said he would be fighting for and has failed to deliver. This is further proof that Maitland has an ineffective member, who says one thing to the electorate and then fails to deliver the results,” Robyn Parker said.

What Maitland MP Frank Terenzini said:

Lochinvar Police Station -

“This is about keeping a foothold for police in an area that’s going to grow in five to ten years time. If we do nothing, it will be sold. I want the Minister to consider very seriously what the people are saying.”

(Maitland Mercury, 16.6.09)

Ramp at Martin’s Creek Railway Station –

“We’ll spend whatever it costs to have the station fixed. It has been made quite clear that it’s imperative the work is done.”

(Maitland Mercury, 2.12.08)

Traffic congestion at the roundabouts at Maitland Hospital and Maitland Railway Station –

Maitland MP Frank Terenzini said he would be talking to Mr Daley (Minister for Roads) about the issue. “I certainly agree there’s going to be more and more traffic going through these roundabouts.”

(Maitland Mercury, 18.5.09) 

Robyn Parker also said the NSW Labor Government should be held to account for their delays on the construction of the Third Hunter River Crossing. Former Minister for Roads, Carl Scully, first announced this project in 1999 and it will take three terms of Government to complete in 2011 – no doubt so there’s plenty of time for ribbon cutting ceremonies prior to the next state election.

“Maitland is one of the fastest growing regions of NSW and it is vital that infrastructure keep up with the current and future demands of the population,” Robyn Parker said.

“The State Labor Government has conducted countless number of reports on the needs of the region and yet time and time again, they fail to deliver projects on time and on budget and they fail to listen to the community and its’ representatives.

“Maitland is a vital part of the NSW economy and that of the Hunter region and it is time that Labor stopped taking it for granted. All of this goes to prove once again, that the local State Member Frank Terenzini is part of the problem and not part of the solution.”