The proposed Hunter Park lifestyle precinct at Broadmeadow has been given a boost with the NSW Government allocating $6.3million from this week’s budget to prepare a full business case for the project.
The significant project aims to transform 63 hectares surrounding McDonald Jones Stadium, the Newcastle Entertainment Centre and Newcastle Showground into a sporting, entertainment, and lifestyle precinct.
City of Newcastle (CoN) welcomed the funding with Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the project represented a major step forward for Newcastle and the Hunter Region.
“Hunter Park is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create 8,000 jobs during construction, with more than 1,000 ongoing following its completion. In turn, transforming a much-loved but aging and underutilised space into a contemporary mixed used precinct located at the geographical heart of Newcastle at Broadmeadow, just five kilometres from the Newcastle CBD,” Cr Nelmes said.
“It is a significant urban regeneration proposal, the size and scale of which has never been seen outside of Sydney.”
The project will incorporate 50 hectares of public open and green spaces, state-of-the-art sporting facilities and entertainment zones, 13,000sqm for commercial space and more than 2,600 new homes including social and affordable housing.
CoN CEO Jeremy Bath echoed the sentiment adding that the multi-stage project would further secure Newcastle’s place as a destination city.
“Delivering an international-quality destination for sporting events and entertainment, with improved connectivity for public and active transport, it is expected to attract 1.8 million annual visitors and become home to around 6,000 residents, delivering exceptional liveability, sustainability and place outcomes,” he said.
“In what would likely be a multi-stage construction process over more than 10 years, Hunter Park will provide an opportunity to attract major private market investment into Newcastle, including an estimated $3.7 billion in economic output during construction and attracting almost $55 million annually from the NSW Government.”
