MACKAS Sand, a company with ties to Port mayor Bruce MacKenzie, could no longer need access to the Stockton Bight Track if an application to use one of the Port's main thoroughfares - Nelson Bay Road - for access is approved.
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Mackas Sand applied to the state government's Department of Planning to change its access for extraction area 218 from the controversial Stockton Bight Track and Lavis Lane to a new access road between the extraction area and Nelson Bay Road, through land owned by the MacKenzie family.
The application for the change, which also includes an increase in the amount of sand to be extracted from the site, is on public exhibition and open for comment on the NSW Department of Planning website at www.planning.nsw.gov.au, until November 21.
The application proposes that a left-turn only intersection be created along Nelson Bay Road between the Paul's Corner and Williamtown roundabouts - about two kilometres west from Paul's Corner.
According to an environmental report lodged as part of the application it could mean an additional 16 truck movements per hour on the road, from the new intersection.
It is a matter which has Port Stephens councillor Geoff Dingle concerned not only about increased truck traffic-flow in the area, particularly at peak time, but also about the amount of resources and legal expenses spent on the Stockton Bight Track matter.
"The big issue is the minister still hasn't signed off [on the council's request to rescind the Tower's land]," he said.
"Ratepayers' funds have therefore been squandered on this exercise. We are being bled dry."
He said the section of the road proposed as the site of the new intersection was located before a blind corner and the safety of thousands of road users would be put at risk by the "massive" amounts of truck movements being added to an already busy stretch of road.
Roads and Maritime Service has already indicated some support for the project, subject to several conditions, including the costs of the new intersection being met by the developer.
Cr MacKenzie was contacted for comment but did not return calls in time for publication.
