Welcome to Business Hunter’s first monthly update on issues, events and happenings important to business in our region.
We embark on this partnership with Newcastle Weekly on what is Business Hunter’s 140th anniversary year.
Yes, that’s right – 140 years as the voice of business in the Hunter.
It’s a record we’re quite proud of, and it all began with a meeting at Newcastle’s Great Northern Hotel in January 1886.
While we exist to represent the interests of business and industry, we like to think we speak for the wider community as well, because initiatives that improve prosperity and create jobs ultimately build a better Hunter for everyone.
If you want to see what’s currently on our wish list, our State and Federal Budget submissions are available on our website.
The big news in recent weeks was the federal government’s commitment to advancing High-Speed Rail to the so-called “development phase” via increased funding that takes their total investment in the project to date to $650 million.
The funding will support detailed design and planning approvals, bringing us closer to a project that will reshape our connectivity with Sydney and the Central Coast, improve workforce mobility, stimulate job creation and support population and housing growth along the corridor.
These are exciting times and there is a strong feeling starting to build that this long-fabled project might just happen.
Another important project for the Hunter is the long-overdue renewal of the Newcastle Entertainment Centre.
It’s a must for the region if we want to continue to attract big-name performers and events and would stimulate a new business tourism and conference market as well.
Hot on the heels of the announcement that the Foo Fighters will be heading to McDonald Jones Stadium in November, we joined Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley in urging the NSW Government to commit to initial funding for a new entertainment centre in its upcoming State Budget.
The renewables timeline is a hot topic in the Hunter, with Minister for Climate Change and Energy Penny Sharpe recently launching the start of construction on the Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone (REZ).
We will delve more deeply into that issue when we host EnergyCo CEO Hannah McCaughey as guest speaker at our business lunch on 18 March.
EnergyCo is building the vital infrastructure that will link the Port of Newcastle to the state’s inland Renewable Energy Zones and the business community is keen to hear how things will progress over the next 12 months.
For more business stories:
- Muswellbrook council throws support behind AGL Hunter Energy Hub
- Hunter revs up to scoop pool at NSW Automotive Excellence Awards
- Ex-Knight Crowe to lead Property Council in Hunter, Central Coast
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