Congestion in the Thornton, Chisholm and surrounding communities has been getting significantly worse over the last twelve years that the NSW Liberals and Nationals have been in Government.

As you know, I have been working with Maitland City Council for many years seeking additional infrastructure to address the roads upgrades we need. I’ve held a public meeting, and initiated a petition that many community members have shared and signed. The Maitland City Council website estimates that the required funding for the Thornton Roads precinct is in the order of $110 million. They have applied for multiple grant rounds, but have not been successful.

Finally, in the 2022/23 Budget, we have been successful in getting a Government commitment of just over $9 million in funding from the Housing Acceleration Fund for Raymond Terrace Road and Government Road intersections.

Sadly, it is just not enough.

Especially when the many residents purchasing their first home in this postcode have contributed $287.7 million in stamp duty over the last ten years to State Government coffers!

I had previously obtained a commitment from the Deputy Premier (when he was Minister for Regional Transport and Roads) that he would visit Maitland to see our congestion issues first-hand, but due to COVID restrictions he wasn’t able to attend, and the new Minister appointed in December 2021 has failed to make the same commitment, despite me raising it with him since our first meeting.

Many concerned community members attended the public meeting that I held last year and it was a great opportunity to hear your concerns first-hand.  Hundreds of people have signed the ‘Fix our Roads in Maitland – Give Us Our Fair Share’ petition.

We need to work together as a community to ensure the new Minister gets the message loud and clear. Our community are fed-up with the current Liberal National Government’s neglect and lack of investment.

I have spoken on this issue in the NSW Parliament on many occasions through Private Members Statements and submitted written Questions on Notice and I intend on continuing to do so until we receive the infrastructure that we expect and deserve.

Help me send a message to the Liberal-Nationals Government: Fix our roads in Maitland – Give us our fair share!