RDA Hunter CEO, Todd Williams and Director Neville Sawyer AM recently met with NSW Treasurer and Minister for Industrial Relations The Hon. Mike Baird MP.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the sale of Newcastle Port and investment of the proceeds of the sale region-wide.
RDA Hunter welcomes the commitment by the NSW government to apply some of the proceeds of the Port sales to improving Newcastle’s CBD. However, due to the region-wide economic significance of the Port of Newcastle and the Hunter’s importance as an east-coast hub, RDA Hunter advocates that the benefits from its sale should be disseminated to infrastructure projects across the region.
The Hunter’s regional infrastructure priorities were also communicated to The Treasurer.
RDA Hunter continues to work with stakeholders and all levels of government to have the Hunter’s infrastructure priorities recognised in state and federal government plans.
During the 2012-13 financial year, RDA Hunter partnered with Infrastructure NSW to develop the Hunter Economic Infrastructure Plan (HEIP) which was supported by a $450,000 Federal Government Regional Infrastructure Fund grant.
Regional Infrastructure priorities identified by RDA Hunter include:
• Connectivity: Port of Newcastle, Kooragang Island and Newcastle Airport
• Scone – rail level crossing
• Singleton – Gowrie Gates underpass
• Water security
• New England Highway from Belford to the Golden Highway
• Freight rail bypass of Newcastle between Fassifern and Hexham
• Lake Macquarie Transport Interchange
• Revitalising Newcastle and Connecting the Lower Hunter Urban Area
• High Speed Broadband
Newcastle Port Corporation is taking Expressions of Interest for membership of a Port of Newcastle Community Liaison Group which is currently being established. For more information download the media release
Port of Newcastle Community Liaison Group