BY JESSICA ROUSE

There was an outcry amongst the Hunter’s State MP’s this week after the Lake Macquarie Transport Interchange missed out on getting funding from the Federal government in the 2017-18 budget.

Also known as the Glendale Interchange, the project would see a transport route open between Cardiff and Glendale considerably aid in traffic congestion and make the trip faster – something locals see as quintessential to the area.

All Hunter Labor MP’s and Independent Lake Macquarie MP Greg Piper stand united in their fight for funding with the exception of Upper Hunter Nationals MP Michael Johnsen who declined to add his name to the joint letter from members.

The letter addressed to Premier Gladys Berejiklian highlighted the regional importance of the project.

The next stage of funding would involve the construction of the Pennant Street Bridge and the state government is being encouraged to commit $13 million in funding for the stage in the hope it would be matched by the Federal Government.




“We are on a united front seeking the state government to support this critical piece of infrastructure for the Hunter. We’ve got PropertyCouncil,, Business Chamber, Hunter councils and all Hunter Labor MP’s plus Independent MP Greg Piper from Lake Macquarie, ” said Shadow Minister for the Hunter Kate Washington.

“It’s a really unusual situation where there is a united front on the ground from across the Hunter for the project and state and federal government just continue to ignore the voices of the locals.”