MAITLAND is the fastest growing regional area in the state and it faces unique challenges as infrastructure struggles to keep up.
Lochinvar has 90 more homes and eight new roads on the way, after plans for a development on a 47.7 hectare site off Windermere Road was given the green light.
The Senior Citizens Centre has been at the centre of controversy, with a group of senior citizens calling for it to be reopened.
Maitland council has said there is no budget for repairs, which could cost more than $1 million.
Seniors have not been able to use the hall since before 2021, when the council used it as an office while its administration centre was being constructed.
The future of the Walka Water Works site remains uncertain after Reflections Holidays pulled out of plans to provide visitor accommodation due to the costly and lengthy asbestos remediation process.
Central Maitland has seen growth, with the redevelopment of The Levee and River Link Building, the Maitland Regional Sports Complex, new administration centre and improvements to Harold Gregson Reserve.
Maitland has four candidates standing for mayor, and it will be up to voters to decide who gets the top job when they head to the ballot box on September 14.
'Caring for community': Maitland Greens mayoral candidate Campbell Knox
Since February the Maitland Greens have been knocking on doors, letter-boxing and hosting pop-ups all across Maitland to ensure that our policy for this election truly represents the interests of the people of Maitland.
Since February our priorities have become laser-focused.
Our aims can be broken down into three key areas: revitalising our river, protecting our past and investing in our future.
We aim to end the lack of consultation and ensure there is a care for community again, a care that protects our public assets from privatisation and allows the many beautiful heritage sites of our city to be fully maintained and utilised by the community again.
We are sick of tearing down and desecrating our history, our heritage and our natural environment in order to provide for developer profit and an undeserved pay increase for the mayor and councillors.
As our over-development continues however, we have seen council continue to neglect the infrastructural needs of our long standing communities.
The constant destruction and fencing off of passive green space, the loss of heat sinks and tree cover and the continued degradation of our river are just a few of the many examples of how our council has abandoned our environment and in doing so, left our community stranded without proper drainage, adequate flood levies or even a historical mapping of Maitland's flood zones.
All of which can be easily resolved by a council that cares again.
Let's bring the community back to council this September.
'The best fit for the job': Maitland mayor and Independent mayoral candidate Philip Penfold
A lot has been achieved by the council I lead during this short two-and-a-half year term, though there is much more to done for this growing city of Maitland.
We have record roads and capital infrastructure investment, and roads and traffic will remain a high priority for my team.
Retention of our new bulky waste service and weekly (not fortnightly) red bin collection, stopping Labor's hopes to reverse both, remain a key commitment.
I am confident I'm the best fit for the job, and confident the people of Maitland are noticing the results and will support my independent team to get on with the job.
'The experience to turn words into action': Maitland Labor mayoral candidate Ben Whiting
I am Labor's candidate for mayor and Ward 3 councillor.
I've been on council for 12 years and have the experience needed to turn words into action.
I grew up in Maitland and have worked as special needs teacher in the heart of Maitland for the last 15 years. I have always loved our city and think we can do better.
We need to recognise over-development and work towards catching up with infrastructure in our new suburbs.
We need to build connected communities with footpaths, shared paths and well-planned roads.
We need to protect Maitland's identity by embracing it's heritage and valuing our green open space.
We value better management of community facilities: I voted against the caravan park for Walka Water Works.
We would reopen the Senior Citizens Centre.
We would progress a public pool in the west of Maitland.
We would ensure our facilities are well-maintained and accessible.
As mayor, I would conduct myself in an open and honest way and ensure that council as a whole meets that benchmark in its organisational culture.
The Newcastle Herald contacted Independent candidate Shahriar Saffari but did not receive a response.
