Mayoral Candidates Jay Suvaal and Ian Olsen butt heads over a proposed ring road to ease traffic problems on Wollombi Road.
Jay Suvaal Labors Mayoral candidate for Cessnock in the upcoming council elections in September, wants your support to build the Cessnock Ring Road.
In a recent Facebook post from Jay Suvaal is asking people to sign a new petition in support of the Cessnock ring road.
Cessnock Councillors have already voted to investigate options for a ring road or bypass to ease traffic congestion on Wollombi Road, the initial investigation and design will cost $925,000 and the ring road could cost up to $200 million to complete depending on the final design.
Councillor Ian Olsen Independent Candidate for mayor was the only councillor to vote against investigating a ring road, stating Cessnock Council can afford the project.
Cessnock Council would require funding grants from the State or Federal governments to fund such an ambitious project, Jay Suvaal told MHV NEWS that we can’t win grants if we don’t have projects ready to go.
Jay Suvaal recognizes that new developments are causing the traffic issues that plague Wollombi Road especially in the mornings and afternoon and is going to get worse without action now.
With so much positive development in our City in recent years, the traffic nightmare along Wollombi and Maitland roads is growing worse.
Jay Suvaal
Jay says the Cessnock Ring Road could possibly be the solution to the problems on Wollombi Road but it’s won’t be cheap.
The ‘ring-road’ won’t be cheap and Council will need Federal and State Government funding. But Council can’t apply for money until they have a more detailed design proposal, and that also costs money.
Jay Suvaal
Councillor Ian Olsen told MHV NEWS it’s a great idea if we had over $200 million to build the ring road and that no government will give Council that much money to complete the ring road.
Councillor Olsen also said the $925,000 to investigate and design the road will come out of the road works budget.
If we could get the money for a ring road it be great, but we need action now and my team has ideas that will help traffic flow before the next election.
Joel Fitzgibbon couldn’t get a million for our pool and the gaol access was reduced by the liberals after labor played political games with it. If you believe this will be built in this term of council you are disillusioned. As the traffic grinds to a halt we’ll wait for another plan. Good luck jay
Independent Candidate Ian Olsen