Wickham to act as crossing point for Newcastle light rail line

Nicola TrotmanDecember 7, 2020

Wickham has been chosen as the location to boast a fully accessible interchange as part of the first stage of the Newcastle light rail line.

The announcement by the NSW Government was made over the Christmas break, but the Government is yet to determine where the light rail will travel between Wickham and the beach.

“This is about providing the first stage of a light rail system for Newcastle – connecting people to prominent, vibrant areas of the city centre, such as the Honeysuckle precinct and Hunter Street, and encouraging ongoing investment,” says Minister for Planning and Infrastructure Brad Hazzard.

Two potential short-listed light rail routes include the rail corridor and Scott Street to near Newcastle Beach at Pacific Park, or Hunter Street and Hunter Street Mall to near Newcastle Beach at Pacific Park.

The community will get to have their say on the potential routes, with a community consultation starting early this year to seek feedback.

“Both options promote urban renewal and improve access to key destinations in the Newcastle city centre – supporting Newcastle and the Hunter’s revitalisation.

“Consultation with the community, which we will start in the new year, will be critical to our decision-making about Newcastle’s future light rail system,” says Hazzard.

Minister for Transport Gladys Berejiklian says the Wickham interchange will offer direct access from trains on the Hunter and Central Coast lines.

“A transport interchange at Wickham will help create a new business district within the emerging Newcastle CBD at the western end of Newcastle city centre,” says Berejiklian.

Hazzard says the introduction of a light rail and the interchange at Wickham will help bring jobs, residents and visitors into the Newcastle city centre.

More than 11 hectares of undeveloped land is located within 400 metres of Wickham, meaning the interchange could also trigger significant development and economic growth.

news@propertyobserver.com.au

Nicola Trotman

With a penchant for the written word, Nicola has built a career doing just this – now Creative Director at thriving Melbourne-based PR agency, Greenpoint Media.

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