Rail view not mine, says Newcastle Bishop Wright

Bishop Bill Wright has distanced the Maitland-Newcastle Catholic diocese from its strategic assets manager's support for the end of heavy rail services at Wickham, reports The Newcastle Herald.

The Newcastle Herald reported yesterday that a short submission written by diocese strategic assets and development manager Boyd McCallum had urged the state government to push ahead with the planned rail and city revitalisation changes.

 

It said the "vocal minority" had held Newcastle back.

"The Catholic diocese, as a major stakeholder in Newcastle and the Hunter Valley fully endorses these initiatives," the submission, via an email, said.

Some parishioners contacted the Herald to express concerns about the remarks, but declined to be named.

Bishop Wright said yesterday that Mr McCallum "does very good work for the diocese in planning and property management, and he is undoubtedly enthusiastic about urban renewal in Newcastle".