Seriously, another letter? That’s Mayor Daniel Watton’s grand plan to bring a train back to Cessnock? We’ve been here before. Former mayors have sent letter after letter to the state government, and guess what? Nothing happened. The letters were ignored, left to collect dust on some bureaucrat’s desk. And now Watton wants to try the same failed approach?
This isn’t how you get things done. If Watton was serious, he’d be calling Transport Minister John Graham daily, lobbying opposition transport spokespeople, pushing Dan Repacholi, and demanding Sue Gilroy take a stand. This is the most contested election in Hunter history. If there was ever a time to put the pressure on, it’s now.
The rail corridor between Cessnock and Maitland is privately owned. The government won’t just magically buy it back unless they’re forced to. Watton’s letter is nothing more than a PR stunt unless he follows it up with real political pressure.
Labor is suddenly throwing money at Cessnock—Apex Park upgrades, Wollombi Road funding—but where is the funding for the only infrastructure project that could truly transform the region? If Repacholi and Watton actually cared, they’d be demanding federal and state funding to buy back the rail corridor. But instead, we get a letter.
Even if the train line were reinstated, there’s another major flaw—it doesn’t connect to Green Hills Shopping Centre. Instead, it would stop at Victoria Street Station, leaving passengers with an 11-minute walk. That means buses would still be required—exactly what people hate about the current system. If this project is going to happen, it needs to be done right.
Cessnock has been neglected by Labor for decades—until now. Why? Because they’re terrified of losing the Hunter. Dan Repacholi is on shaky ground, and Labor knows it. That’s why they’re suddenly spending money here.
But throwing us a few crumbs isn’t enough. If Repacholi was serious about helping Cessnock, he’d be pushing for federal funding to bring back our rail. If he won’t do it, where’s the Liberal candidate? This is their chance to stand up and fight for the Hunter.
Meanwhile, the Liberals are throwing money around in the seat of Paterson because, all of a sudden, they think they can win. If they’re willing to splash cash there to make a grab for power, why aren’t they doing the same in the Hunter? If they really want to prove they care about regional communities, Cessnock’s rail project should be their next big commitment.
Former mayors have tried sending letters before. It led to nothing. Watton’s letter will suffer the same fate unless he makes this an election issue. We need real leadership—not another piece of paper destined for the bin.