The Hunter needs a Deal
Beautiful beaches, world renowned agricultural products, a location that’s close enough to Sydney without being too close, and all the advantages of being Australia’s leading regional economy; the Hunter has it all. But to go to the next level and to maintain and attract jobs and investment, we need a City Deal.
The Hunter’s future is already being planned
The draft Greater Newcastle Metropolitan Plan released on exhibition late last year made a critical start at planning Newcastle’s future. It highlights the opportunities that aren’t being fully realised; the ‘Global Gateways’ of Newcastle Port and Airport, the University, and the John Hunter Hospital.
Add to this the Hunter Regional Plan that sets out ambitious transport links, with ‘last mile connections’ for delivering goods to the growing community and local businesses identified as critical.
However, to fully realise these opportunities and ensure they become a reality, we need to align governance and funding to ensure all levels of government and private industry are united behind one course of action; a City Deal can do this.
Through a City Deal, federal, state and local government agree on what should be done to lift economic growth in a defined area and set measurable targets such as jobs, economic growth and affordable housing.
A City Deal emphasises building infrastructure and aims to deliver long-term benefits, such as higher land values, bigger tax receipts, more jobs and increased productivity outside of electoral and investment cycles.
Australia currently has three City Deals in place, in Townsville and Launceston and the largest City Deal, the Western Sydney City Deal, was announced in March this year.
The Western Sydney City Deal brings together the Federal and State Governments, and eight councils as signatories to a vision for the region’s future. The Deal’s objective is to take advantage of the investment in the new Western Sydney Airport to create more jobs and opportunities for investment, ultimately bolstering the regional economy.
One of the most important outcomes is the commitment to deliver the first stage of north-south rail line through the new airport. Stage one will provide rail from St Marys in the north west to the new Western Sydney Airport.
What we have seen in Townsville, Launceston and now Western Sydney we could also see here in Newcastle. The infrastructure, housing and transport plans outlined in the Metro and Regional Plan could be boosted through an iron clad agreement between all levels of government to get things done.
The Newcastle Deal could be signed by the Muswellbrook, Singleton, Upper Hunter, MidCoast, Dungog, Cessnock, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Newcastle and Port Stephens Councils as well as the State and Commonwealth Governments. It would represent a commitment to deliver the infrastructure outlined in and required by the Greater Newcastle and Hunter Regional Plans. This would include funding arrangements and timeframes for delivery.
It’s an ambitious idea, but very realistic. It represents an opportunity to create a strong future for our region and something we should pursue.