The Property Council of Australia has hailed the release of the Hunter Strategic Regional Integrated Transport Plan.
But, the organisation’s praise also comes with a warning.
Hunter and Central Coast regional director Nuatali Nelmes called the long-term blueprint an important step toward building a safer, better-connected region.
However, she admitted more delivery detail was needed to unlock housing, jobs and investment, with industry concerned about the lack of clear priorities, timeframes and accountability.
“The Hunter deserves a strategy that delivers on our growth ambitions – both in vision and action,” the former Newcastle Lord Mayor said.
“And, the plan recognises the role of transport in unlocking 30,000 new homes, supporting the visitor economy, and strengthening freight links to renewable energy zones.
“They are commitments for which we’ve advocated.
“But, without a distinct delivery plan, key initiatives run the risk of remaining on paper.
“Industry needs certainty on when the upgrades will happen, how the projects will be prioritised, and how the bottlenecks – including delays in transport development assessments – will be resolved.”
The Property Council highlighted several positives:
- Commitment to improve rail reliability on the Hunter Line
- Upgrades to Newcastle Link Road, Cessnock Road and Nelson Bay Road
- Recognition of Newcastle Airport and the visitor economy as priorities
- Stronger focus on safety and resilience across the network
Ms Nelmes said more was required to match the scale of the region’s growth.
“Our submission called for explicit prioritisation of the Lower Hunter Freight Corridor, a plan for extending Newcastle Light Rail to Broadmeadow and the John Hunter Hospital, and a stronger commitment to reusing transport corridors left by the mining industry,” she stated.
“These are all critical to unlocking homes, jobs and investment in the Hunter.
“While the plan acknowledges the need for better public transport, we must see more detail here.
“Changing habits and growing mode share for public transport will require sustained investment, clearer sequencing, and stronger integration with housing delivery.
“We need a plan that sets targets, provides timelines, and gives industry and the community confidence that progress will be made.
“However, this is a welcome start, which to build on.”
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