Memorial garden in works along New England Highway in time for one-year Greta bus crash anniversary

As the one-year anniversary of the tragic Hunter Valley bus crash looms, works are happening for a memorial site to be built for family and friends to pay their respects. Read the details.

Aerial scene coverage from the site where ten people died. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles

As the one year anniversary looms of the tragic Hunter Valley bus crash, a memorial site close to the crash site is being built in honour of the ten people that were killed.

Cessnock City Council has been working with Transport of NSW, also in consultation with Red Cross and the families of the victims, to install a memorial garden by June 11, one year on from the tragedy that rocked the region.

The site, less than one kilometre from the crash site and part-way along the Branxton to Greta memorial shared pathway, the garden will feature 10 deciduous Pyrus Calleryana trees, each representing a life lost in the tragedy, along with individual memorial plaques displaying wording provided by the families.

Low planted mounds and locally occurring native grasses, ground covers and woodland trees will screen the garden from the road and create a quiet, safe space for those wanting to pay their respects, along with users of the shared pathway.

A sandstone wall will formalise the edge of the memorial lawn, and seating will be provided beneath the shade of the commemorative trees.

Artwork of memorial garden for Greta bus crash victims. Artwork: Cessnock City Council.

“The devastating crash over the Kings Birthday long weekend last year had a profound impact on communities in our region and around the country,” said Clr Suvaal.

“Council identified an opportunity to dedicate a site to establish a safe, peaceful and respectful memorial garden for the families of victims, residents and visitors to pay their respects, and has consulted with the families on the concept and design of this lasting tribute.

Members of the local community attend an evening vigil after the crash for those that lost their lives. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Jeremy Piper

“A memorial plaque acknowledging the tragedy and the 10 lives lost will also be erected at the site of the crash on the Rothbury side of the Hunter Expressway.”

The memorial garden will be located on the New England Highway between Branxton and Greta. Council is also working with the families to explore options for a significant memorial closer to the crash site in the future.

The news comes a week after prosecutors downgraded charges against driver Brett Andrew Button.

Ten charges of manslaughter were dropped against Button in exchange for guilty pleas which saw him taken back into custody.

NSW Health Minister Ryan Park with Cessnock MP Clayton Barr (left) and Cessnock Mayor Jay Suvaal (right) visit at the scene following the tragedy. Picture: Jonathan Ng

While The Newcastle News understands some families may have preferred the memorial to be built at the crash site on Wine Country Dr, there were safety issues involving access on a major roadway.

“It needs to be a safe location for people to access,” Cessnock Mayor Jay Suvaal said.

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads and Maitland MP Jenny Aitchison said they had been working with families and confirmed there had been a lot of discussions surrounding where the memorial should be, as well as how it is managed and accessed.

“It’s such an awful time,” she said.

“Happy to talk to families if there are concerns around it, have a discussion about it.”

A Transport for NSW spokesperson said they were supportive of a safe location for the memorial.

“Transport for NSW understands that memorials and tributes may help the grieving process for those who have lost someone to road trauma,” they said in a statement.

“We are supportive of the request for a memorial plaque to be installed in the vicinity of the crash site, however it is important that the final site chosen is at a safer location for family and friends to visit.”

Transport for NSW said it was also working to facilitate safe access to the crash site for families, friends and loved ones on the anniversary of the tragedy.

“We are in discussions with Cessnock City Council to help facilitate this for the community,” they added.

“The NSW Government is working closely with Cessnock and Singleton Councils to provide ongoing support post the Greta tragedy and is making a financial contribution to a memorial which is being delivered by Cessnock Council.

“Our thoughts remain with the families and friends of those injured and killed in the Greta bus tragedy.”

Husband and wife Andrew and Lynan Scott, mother and daughter Nadene and Kyah McBride, Kyah’s boyfriend Kane Symons, Zach Bray, Angus Craig, Darcy Bulman, Tori Cowburn and Rebecca Mullen were all killed in the tragedy on June 11.