Corridor plan receives support
The Property Council of Australia publicly released its assessment of the State Government’s proposal for the Newcastle rail corridor this month.
Following the release of the Newcastle Urban Renewal Strategy in December 2012, a Property Council Revitalising Newcastle Taskforce was formed to advise government on the city centre’s regeneration and since this time, has made dozens of submissions on the future of Newcastle.
The Taskforce examined the corridor proposal in detail over recent weeks and is now offering their broad support.
Hunter Director, Andrew Fletcher, described the Taskforce as a local industry brains-trust with specialist qualifications and experience in planning, urban design, mine subsidence, commercial leasing, and sustainability.
“Each of these Hunter professionals bring a special level of care and effort to getting these government submissions spot-on.”
He said the Taskforce had proven once more, beyond any doubt, that there is no “development-play” on the corridor, and that what’s required is a “tourism-play” to encourage further investment and grow new jobs.
“Designing the city centre as a world-class tourism destination sat at the very heart of MAXIMUM OPPORTUNITY – our signature piece of advice to the NSW Government on Revitalising Newcastle.”
“Hopefully, this latest submission can reignite some of that ambitious thinking to leverage all the natural advantages on offer and position Newcastle as Australia’s first regional city of the Asia-Pacific.
Fletcher said the “game-changers” were well established and now needed political support to make the tourism-play a reality.
“The no-brainer that all urban designers agree upon is to realign Wharf Road with Scott St – establishing a new city edge to the harbour and enough space for a new urban icon.”
The Property Council’s submission says the tourism need remains the same as two years ago; for Newcastle to have its own Opera House or Guggenheim or MONA to anchor the city as a destination.
And it says the tourism opportunity also remains the same as two years ago; for the heritage-listed Newcastle Railway Station to be adaptively repurposed as an iconic landmark building stepping down to the waterfront.
Fletcher conceded that a globally competitive tourism attraction for Newcastle could be several years away, but he said, “that ambition needs to be hard-wired into the current planning proposal or it will fall off the government’s radar.”
“It’s time to set our sights higher as a city, and make sure future generations get the maximum opportunity from the plans being made today.”