An estimated $50 million is needed to get Glendale’s transport system up to scratch.
But the proposed plans are at a standstill, with the State Government falling short of expectations to fund the majority of the plans.
It was a major blow to the Lake Macquarie region, with other infrastructure projects, such as the Swansea Bridge and the F3 Branxton project also not mentioned in the government’s 10-year $140 million infrastructure plan.
Bruce Gatgens, owner of truck shock absorber manufacturing company Powerdown, recently relocated his entire business from Cardiff to Beresfield solely due to the problems at Glendale.
And he won’t be last, he said.
“The roads we were using were unsustainable for heavy business.
“We couldn’t expand because of congestion and traffic.”
Glendale is the gateway to the industrial park at Cardiff, which occupies more than100 hectares of land and contains more than 500 businesses.
Mr Gatgens, who is also former chair of the Hunter Transport Net-work, says the stop/start commitment by the government of establishing a rail link and better road access to Cardiff has been ‘frustrating’.
“We had all of the members on all levels on board but they all backed out. The silence was deafening.
“It would bring so much more to the area – if you look at Newcastle geographically Cardiff is at the centre of it all.
“You could have a world-class hub.”
He says the Glendale Interchange delay has not only affected small business in the area, but commuters coming from the Maitland areas, such as university students.
Lake Macquarie mayor, Greg Piper, who is also the Lake Macquarie MP, said the latest move demonstrates how the State Labor party operates.
“I think its Sydney-centric. Our local state members haven’t got a lot of fraction on this.”
Mr Piper said local council was prepared to put its hand in its pocket, but the next step was up to the state government.
“We want some money in the budget – but even a commitment to the project would be nice.”
A spokesperson for the Hunter Business Chamber agreed that the latest state government plans had ‘very little’ for the Hunter.
“The Glendale Interchange is one of the top three priorities of the Hunter in terms of infrastructure.
“It’s absolutely critical in terms of public transport and better access.”
The chamber hopes the $10 billion sale of power stations and retailers would inject some $500 million into Hunter infrastructure projects, including the Glendale Interchange.
Liberal Hunter Taskforce Chair Robyn Parker said the latest budget by the state government is ‘a total cop out’.
“More planning will see the budget blow out even more.
“The state government seem to want to put if off.”
She said the Glendale Interchange is well positioned in relation to the Cardiff industrial centre, Glendale shopping centre, as well as the F3, Newcastle Port and Maitland.
“There doesn’t seem to be a commitment to the Hunter region at all.”
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