SENTENCING proceedings for the Greta bus crash driver are set to start in Newcastle court on Monday.
Brett Andrew Button, 59, was behind the wheel of the wedding coach when it rolled at a Wine Country Drive roundabout on June 11 last year, killing 10 and injuring dozens more.
Crash victims and loved ones of those that died in the tragedy are expected to make harrowing victim impact statements during a sentence hearing in Newcastle District Court.
The proceedings have been set down for three days from Monday, with 35 statements to be read.
Judge Roy Ellis could hand down his sentence as early as Wednesday, if time permits, or the judgment could come at a later date.
After a controversial deal made earlier this year, Button pleaded guilty to 10 counts of dangerous driving occasioning death, which he will be sentenced for in the district court. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail.
Button will also be sentenced on nine counts of dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, and 16 counts of causing bodily harm by wanton driving.
Family, friends, survivors, community members, investigating police officers and a media pack are expected to converge on the courthouse.
Button had his bail revoked and was taken into custody after pleading guilty in May. His defence barrister Paul Rosser, KC, made an unsuccessful bid for Button to appear by video link for the proceedings and Judge Ellis ordered he be brought to court in person.
The set of facts Button will be sentenced on reveal he was dosed up on prescription painkillers, going too fast, taking risks and ignoring pleas from passengers to slow down when the bus tipped just after 11.30pm.
Thirty-five passengers were on board the Linq Buslines coach as it travelled from a Wandin Estate wedding to the newlywed couple's hometown of Singleton.
Darcy Bulman, Rebecca Mullen, Zachary Bray, Tori Cowburn, Angus Craig, Kane Symons, mother and daughter Nadene and Kyah McBride, and husband and wife Andrew and Lynan Scott, all lost their lives in the crash. Nine other guests were seriously injured.
The Wine Country Drive crash was the worst road disaster in Australia in decades, shattering families and sending shockwaves across the nation.
Earlier this week, Mr Bray's father Adam welcomed the release of the Bus Industry Taskforce's final report. The report zeroes in on measures to ensure every bus is safe and fit-for-purpose, bus drivers are better trained and more safety aware than ever.
Eight of the 19 recommendations put forward are safety-focused.
Mr Bray said the final report came "pretty close" to meeting his expectations, but said "there's always more to be done".
