OUTGOING NSW Premier Mike Baird has been praised by Hunter Business Chamber’s new chief executive Bob Hawes for his “focus and determination” to transform Newcastle.
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“If you go back to 2010 there was a chorus of voices in the region crying out for help to fix our regional capital,” Mr Hawes said.
“But when there were changes people started questioning ‘Is this is the right thing, or should he be doing something else?’
“That’s sometimes seen as an excuse to say ‘We’ll go do something else and come back later’.
“It would be easy to veer off course, to say ‘You can’t all agree, we’re out of here’.
“His focus and determination – we recognise that and are grateful for it.”
Mr Hawes said “history will show” Mr Baird’s legacy as “very good”.
“During his time as treasurer and premier he has brought an unselfish focus to Newcastle,” he said.
“We will look back and see government investment in a very short period of time as unprecedented.
“We often see investment in highways for example that go through and beyond our region.
“But a lot of investment this time around is particular to our region in areas that have spurred private sector investment and been good for local jobs, employment and industry.
“The Hunter Infrastructure and Investment Fund brought a focus to a number of projects and areas that would have otherwise struggled, that were on the books for a long time and we were able to get a determined government to give them focus and get on with the job.”
Mr Hawes said Mr Baird also helped shine the statewide spotlight on the Hunter.
“Members of the front bench now have understanding and recognition of this region,” he said.
“It’s now incumbent on us to get on our bikes early to foster that relationship.
“Whether it’s Gladys Berejiklian, Rob Stokes, Andrew Constance or someone else as the future premier, they all have a profile up here and we’d welcome them back.
“Whoever is the new premier we’re only too glad to keep the door open to keep getting investment into our community and region and the businesses within in it.”