The first workshop of the Lower Hunter Transport Needs Study canvassed a Maitland bypass running from Lochinvar to Four Mile Creek as well as a separate route running parallel to the New England Highway from Thornton.

The study workshop revisited a Cessnock bypass built on upgrades of Wine Country Drive, Lake Road and Leggetts Drive, and discussed whether the F3-to-Branxton bypass could be built as a toll road or, initially. as single lanes.

Kurri Kurri District Business Chamber president Rod Doherty said the area’s present and future traffic burden needed an F3-to-Branxton link.

“I’m not an engineer, but the closer you take a bypass to Maitland, the more problems you would have with water and soft soil.

“Camp Road, Majors Lane and Sawyers Gully have become a back road – a pseudo F3 bypass.

“We shouldn’t be stuffing around with the planning. The project is already planned.”

Mr Doherty said a staged construction of the bypass from Branxton to John Renshaw Drive would create a triangle, not a bypass, and not entice trucks on to the road.

He agreed with NRMA director Kyle Loades’ assertion that Maitland had not had its fair share of money for infrastructure.

“My belief is the Hunter has never had a fair share.

“It would be nice if one percent of coal royalties could flow back to the Hunter.”