A Vote for Revitalising Newcastle

   Newcastle means a lot to me having been born, raised and lived here for the last 18 years of my life. I am passionate in every sense about releasing the potential our city has for small businesses, local families and the thousands of tourists who come to explore the wonders we so proudly boast. From the boutique cafes of Islington to the expansive coastline and everything us locals know exist in between - there is a lot to be appreciative of. I have come to this conclusion having recently moved away from my hometown city, and often compare my experiences elsewhere to that of Newcastle’s. Whether it is the overcrowded roads of Sydney or the lack of beaches in Darwin, Newcastle will always come out on top for me and I know I am not alone.

But seeing Newcastle prosper like we all imagine it does, and dream it can, doesn’t just come through good luck or chance. Over recent decades the transition from the hard-working blue-collar city we once where, to the steadfastly cosmopolitan and diverse place we are now has been the hard work of so many. These people share the grand vision of a city that embraces businesses, fosters growth and encourages investment, whilst also providing the social platform we all desire. These people have come from a range of backgrounds and experiences, which has put us in good stead to suit the needs of so many going forward.  But this hard work over the last decade has the potential to be halted by the backward views and political motivations of a certain few. Newcastle’s rejuvenation cannot risk this.

The NSW State Election on 28 March provides an opportunity to either continue this positive path of renewal, or forget what has been achieved to please minority groups stuck in Yesterday’s Newcastle. What these people seem to have forgotten is that BHP did close in 1999 and that the needs of 20^th century Novocastrians is disparately different to that of today. It seems James A. Belasco was right in his book ‘Flight of the Buffalo’: Change is hard because people overestimate the value of what they have—and underestimate the value of what they may gain by giving that up. Newcastle has and continues to change for the better, and those who oppose this must recognise that they overestimate the value of a Newcastle held back in potential as Belasco has poignantly postulated.

The staunch opposition to progress from the likes of Labor’s candidate Tim Crakanthorp is disappointing given the position he finds himself in. It is people li
ke Tim who should be the stalwarts of renewing the CBD, not figureheads of a movement that goes against what has already been achieved. What’s most disappointing is the political motivation behind Labor’s backward plans for Newcastle, rather than providing a reasonable alternate route to creating a world-class city.

Tim Crakanthorp’s opposition to the $340 million injection from the lease of Newcastle’s Port and $120 million investment from the Hunter Infrastructure fund, on top of the hundreds of millions GPT plans to spend in the East End shows his naivety in the face of a great deal for our city. This blatant aversion to revitalising Newcastle is startling and brings into question his aspiration for office, given that it is clearly not to see our city thrive.  This makes true that putting Labor last means putting Newcastle first.

With Karen Howard and the Baird Liberal Government planning Light Rail through the CBD, promising to support new and existing businesses and creating a conduit from our city to our harbour by removing the heavy rail – the choice could not be more evident.  It’s a vote for a candidate that wholeheartedly supports the creation of a world-class city through various revitalisation projects, or a candidate with a penchant for empty shopfronts on Hunter St and would cancel the current plans if given the chance.

As a young Novocastrian, it is at the forefront of my mind what Newcastle will be like when my peers and I inherit it as the adult
s of tomorrow. Will there be businesses that want to open in our CBD? Will there be an open connection from Hunter St to the Harbour? Will there be Light rail that connects the best aspects of our city? Will there be any reason to come into the city? This rationale has shaped by belief that we should act now, for the sake of the future, and so that we have the infrastructure, transport and economy that will be able to meet the challenges the coming years and decades will most definitely hold.

On March 28^th Novocastrians have a great opportunity to vote for the Newcastle we all love and enjoy. A Newcastle that is vibrant, energetic, dynamic and connected. A vote for Karen Howard will undoubtedly ensure this and I would encourage you all to support her plans to make a NEWcastle. Let’s see our city move forward, not backwards. Let’s make Newcastle the city we all know it can and deserves to be. Let's say YES to Karen Howard!