Former Cessnock Deputy Mayor John Moores has launched a stinging attack on current Cessnock Mayor Daniel Watton, accusing him of hypocrisy over his support for the Wollombi Road upgrade. The clash comes after the federal Labor government announced last week that it had allocated $22.1 million to complete stage two of the project, a development expected to pave the way for 900 new homes in Bellbird.
Moores, taking to Facebook, didn’t hold back. “Well, that will do me,” he wrote. “What a hypocrite, from a person who was against the Wollombi Road upgrade, and now he welcomes the road at $22.1 million. Has he got back to the residents and communicated with them? No.”
The comments were a direct jab at Mayor Watton, who has previously voiced skepticism about the project but has since embraced the funding. Moores’ frustration seemed rooted in what he perceives as a betrayal of Watton’s earlier stance.
Watton wasted no time firing back, accusing Moores of making baseless political attacks. In a fiery response, the Mayor defended his position and called on Moores to respect the councillor code of conduct. “John Moores, are you serious?! Please read my statement again – and stop trying to take cheap pot shots at me!” Watton posted. “You should know the councillor code of conduct as well as anyone concerning decisions being made by council being upheld.”
Despite Watton’s rebuttal, Moores was far from finished. He highlighted the project’s history, pointing out that it was first approved during the tenure of former Independent Mayor Alison Davies, with Ian Olsen serving as Deputy Mayor at the time. According to Moores, the project symbolized the vision of Independent leadership. However, Olsen’s stance on the upgrade shifted in recent years, with the former councilor becoming a vocal critic of the plan. His opposition to the project became a key issue in the last election, helping to unseat former Mayor Jay Suvaal.
Moores accused Watton of running a deceitful campaign during the election, claiming the Mayor had campaigned on stopping the project despite knowing it was impossible to halt.
The Wollombi Road upgrade has long been a divisive issue in Cessnock. While supporters argue that the project is vital for infrastructure improvements and the development of 900 new homes in Bellbird, critics view it as a costly and unnecessary venture that will not fix congestion on Wollombi Rd. The federal Labor government’s decision to back the project with $22.1 million has reignited the debate, with residents taking to social media to voice their opinions.