MP says power sale hope for Newcastle light rail
MICHELLE HARRIS
26 Nov, 2011 04:00 AM
PROCEEDS from the sale of the state’s electricity generators could enable light rail to be built sooner in the inner city, Newcastle MP Tim Owen says.
The O’Farrell government announced this week it would sell the generators, including Hunter power stations, in a move that could raise about $5billion for infrastructure spending.
Premier Barry O’Farrell has said a third of the proceeds would be spent in regional areas.
[The Duck Hunter says the promise of one-third for regional NSW is no bonus; Sydney's population is two-thirds of the State's population, so it is standard operating procedure to give Sydney two-thirds of anything, and the rest of the State half as much,]
Mr Owen said yesterday he supported the move, which could provide money for light rail in place of the inner-city section of the rail line. [Then again, it could be used for something else - Owen is not big on decisions.]
Government talks with retailer and city property owner the GPT Group about the future of the city centre are continuing.
The electricity sale proposal is much the same as former Labor premier Morris Iemma’s plan in 2008, which the Coalition blocked while in opposition.
Several Labor MPs threatened at the time to cross the floor.
Former Newcastle Labor MP Jodi McKay has previously said she supported the sale to fund projects such as fixing traffic delays at Adamstown railway crossing.
Mr Owen said he wanted the gates considered in a new transport plan for NSW and the Hunter.
He said he and Charlestown MP Andrew Cornwell had been arguing for a freight bypass of Newcastle and that it be considered in the transport plan, for which work is expected to start next year.
Mr Cornwell said priorities for funding in his area included the Glendale interchange.
Advice to the previous Labor government put the cost of a 37-kilometre freight bypass at about $330million.
Newcastle Trades Hall Council secretary Gary Kennedy said unions would test community opinion before deciding on action against the power privatisation plan.
But a clear majority of people were opposed to privatisation last time around and he believed opinion was stronger now.
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