City Centre Renewal
Newcastle City Centre Renewal
The Hunter Development Corporation (HDC) report sets out a 15 to 20 year blueprint for the redevelopment of inner Newcastle, outlining catalyst projects that have the potential to transform Newcastle into a highly liveable city, generating economic activity to support businesses and jobs.
It has taken more than 18 months of hard work, careful planning and consultation with residents, business and all levels of government to get us to where we are at today, and we are now working hard to advance Newcastle’s redevelopment.
The following is a timeline detailing the key steps we have taken and the key documents that have been released as part of this process.
30 June 2010 – Shepherds Hill Military Site Recognised On State’s Heritage Register
Newcastle’s historic Shepherds Hill military fortifications have been placed on the State’s Heritage Register. Shepherds Hill co-ordinated Newcastle’s various coastal defences during World War II and I am very pleased it will be protected for generations to come.
Military occupation of the Shepherds Hill site began in the 1890s, in case of an attack by Russia, with the construction of a gun emplacement with underground rooms. The gun was designed to be a discrete, hard-to-spot weapon which would contract downwards, below its parapet to be reloaded. It remains the only unmodified eight-inch disappearing gun emplacement of its type in NSW.
The heritage listing includes the gun emplacements and pits as well as a 100m-long tunnel.
The listing means:
- Any major works for the installations would be subject to decisions or advice from the Heritage Council of NSW as well as Newcastle City Council;
- The site will now have increased access to State Government heritage funding; and
- Must be maintained to certain standards of repair.
28 June – Newcastle’s Heritage – Explored, Protected, Celebrated
The James Fletcher Hospital site holds a great deal of historical significance to Newcastle, which is why the NSW Government has taken the first steps to ensure it is protected for future generations. I am working with the Hunter New England Area Health Service and the local community to have the site placed on the State Heritage Register.
The James Fletcher site has been used for almost 140 years to provide mental health services to Newcastle and the Hunter region and it is important that health services continue to be provided on the site by Hunter New England Area Health. I believe it's possible to achieve a balance where the site is used for health service delivery and at the same time the historical and heritage significance of the site is recognised and protected.
I congratulate Newcastle's Coal River Working Group who have worked so hard to see the site's heritage recognised. Through discussions with the Chief Executive of Hunter New England Health, Nigel Lyons, we have been able to achieve support for their goal and begin preliminary work to understand what exemptions need to be included in the listing.
The James Fletcher site is one of the oldest sites of European settlement in Newcastle. It was originally a government farm, and was then used as a military compound and barracks before being converted for use as a mental health facility in 1871. It was also the site of the first seat of Government in Newcastle. It is critical this site is protected and retained in public ownership as an operating health facility.
18 June – Nobbys To Be Opened To The Public:
For the first time in more than 150 years Nobbys Headland will be officially opened to the public thanks to an historic agreement between Newcastle Port Corporation to transfer ownership of the site to the Land Property Management Authority (LPMA).
I have always believed the community should be able to access Nobbys so they can fully appreciate its rich history and of course extraordinary views over Newcastle. However, before Nobbys can be opened we need to ensure it is safe, so over the next two months LPMA will assess the risks on site and develop a plan to have the site opened as soon as possible.
I have worked hard to ensure the headland is owned and managed by the community and I am pleased that the former Member for Maitland, John Price, has been appointed as the community's representative in an honorary capacity. John will work with the LPMA to establish a Community Trust and help understand how best to achieve access and an initial operational model for Nobbys Headland.
I want to acknowledge the significance of Newcastle Port Corporation's decision to transfer ownership of Nobbys to LPMA as well as local Restaurateur Neil Slater’s long battle to open the site as accommodation and a restaurant.
8 June 2010
Jodi McKay and Attorney General John Hatzistergos announce the Keneally Government will invest in a $94 million court complex in the heart of Newcastle. The new court complex, which will become the centrepiece of a modern Justice Precinct, will become the state’s largest court complex outside Sydney, with the new courthouse to be at least 20 per cent larger than Newcastle’s existing courthouse.
Funding the new court complex for the Justice Precinct delivers on one of the key catalyst projects from the Hunter Development Corporation’s CBD Renewal Report and reinforces the NSW Government’s continued investment in the revitalisation of Newcastle’s CBD.
4 June 2010 - $60,000 For Newcastle Surf Clubs
In 2008 the NSW Government, Hunter Surf Life Saving, Newcastle Council and the six Newcastle Surf Clubs signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) committing all parties to revitalise the city’s coastline. In accordance with the MoU I recently handed over the first contribution of $60,000 to be shared between our surf clubs.
The contribution will ensure that for the first time Newcastle’s six Surf Clubs have financial support from the Government and Council for the great service they provide to the community. Our surf clubs are run by volunteers who fundraise to ensure their general operational costs are met, so this annual boost will help our surf clubs do what they do best, keep our beaches safe.
21 May 2010
Jodi McKay announces the NSW Government has successfully returned the Post Office to Public Hands. The decision to purchase the former Post Office is another critical step in renewing Newcastle’s CBD. The building has been subject to attacks by vandals, neglected over many years and left to decay following the disgraceful decision of the former Howard Government to sell the site in 2002.
5 March 2010
Jodi McKay, and University of Newcastle Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nicholas Saunders, call for Expressions of Interest for a new University campus.
The national call for Expressions of Interest will identify potential private sector partners for the project. This is a significant first step in delivering a city campus for the University of Newcastle and is also a key catalyst project in the renewal of Newcastle’s CBD.
This site is ideally placed because of its proximity to the Civic Precinct which will be the continuing focus for education, administration, civic and cultural uses into the future. It is also linked with the Honeysuckle business community and is close to Wickham, which will be a focus of business activity in the future.
26 February 2010
Member for Newcastle, Jodi McKay announces the draft Newcastle Coastal Masterplan for public consultation in.
16 December 2009
Jodi McKay announces $300,000 towards stage one of Newcastle City Council’s Hunter Street revitalisation.
26 November 2009
Minister for Housing David Borger and Jodi McKay announce the transfer of ownership of Wickham School to the University of Newcastle and $1.6 million for affordable student accommodation for inner Newcastle.
20 November 2009
Jodi McKay and Lands Minister Tony Kelly announce the agreement to demolish the existing derelict building on the Newcastle Bowling Club site to be replaced by a single storey function/conference centre.
8 October 2009
Commencement of demolition work on the derelict Shortland Clinic building on the James Fletcher Hospital site.
2 October 2009
Jodi McKay announces the Hunter Development Corporation has been incorporated into the Land Property Management Authority (LPMA) and will report directly to her in her role as Minister for the Hunter.
The Newcastle City Centre Renewal Steering Committee is established to manage each catalyst project outlined in the Hunter Development Corporation CBD Renewal Report.
4 September 2009
The former Premier announces the release of land to the University of Newcastle for the first stage of its relocation to the inner city and the engagement of a consultant to work with council and the university to “map” the education precinct.
The former Premier announces the development of a scoping study to fully cost the best transport solution for the inner-city.
The NSW Government commits $2.5 million towards the refurbishment of the Channel Berth on Newcastle Harbour and to promote the Hunter as a cruise ship hub.
25 August 2009
Jodi McKay announces $70,000 in funding to support an economic development officer at Newcastle City Council. Increasing business in Newcastle’s city centre will be a top priority for the new officer, as well as supporting individual businesses to make the most of the opportunities arising from investment and infrastructure projects.
9 August 2009
The Hunter Valley Research Foundation survey results are released.
The key findings of the Hunter Valley Research Foundation’s survey are:
- 93% of respondents recognise the need for the Newcastle city centre to be rejuvenated.
- More than 85% of respondents indicate moderate or higher support for the Education, Justice, Retail, Tourism and Commercial precinct catalyst projects outlined in the report.
- 59% of respondents indicate moderate or higher support for the removal of the heavy rail line to Newcastle and the development of a new transport interchange at Wickham.
- 71% of respondents are supportive of a new Transport interchange at Wickham Station and the removal of the heavy rail line to Newcastle if it is dependant on the realisation of other catalyst projects.
Click here to access the Hunter Valley Research Foundation’s survey.
23 July 2009
Minister for the Hunter Jodi McKay announces the derelict Shortland Clinic building at James Fletcher Hospital will be demolished.
23 June 2009
The NSW Government announces continued support of Renew Newcastle, a project transforming Newcastle into a cultural hub for artists, with $100,000 in funding.
26 May 2009
The Hunter Development Corporation Renewal Report is released for public feedback. The report recommends a number of projects that could act as a catalyst to revitalise inner-city Newcastle, to increase public open space and improve people movement in and around the CBD.
During the eight-week public feedback process, more than 3000 people accessed the Hunter Development Corporation website and more than 350 written submissions were made to the Newcastle electorate office.
Jodi McKay also announces the Government will enlist an independent company to survey public opinion on the report’s recommendations.
Click here to access the Hunter Development Corporation’s City Centre Renewal Report.
27 February 2009
GPT announces its $650 million Hunter Street mall project will be put on hold as a result of the Global Financial Crisis.
11 December 2008
The CBD Taskforce reports back to the community.
As a result, Minister for the Hunter Jodi McKay charges the Hunter Development Corporation (HDC) with the role of fully investigating options for the long-term renewal of inner city Newcastle. Jodi also indicates that all options regarding transport connections for the inner city are to be considered.
13 November 2008
Results of the Bang the Table consultation are provided to the CBD Taskforce.
30 October 2008
Bang The Table consultation extended for an additional two weeks.
16 October 2008
Jodi McKay launches ‘Bang the Table’ public consultation, a web based forum for residents to lodge their feedback about transport connectivity issues for the CBD and ideas for the development of the city.
14 October 2008
GPT issues demand to remove the rail line to open up the shopping precinct to Newcastle Harbour.
8 September 2008
Jodi McKay is sworn in as Minister for the Hunter.
22 August 2008
Following much community debate on GPT’s demands, Jodi McKay establishes the CBD Task Force to coordinate a planned approach to the development of Newcastle’s CBD.
15 August 2007
General Property Trust (GPT) announces details of its plan to invest $650 million into the redevelopment of the Hunter Street Mall.