A preferred transport corridor for Newcastle that includes light rail is set to be finalised, with the New South Wales Government requesting that the plan be accelerated to provide certainty for stakeholders.
Transport for NSW North Region Director, Anna Zycki, said Transport for NSW has been asked to finalise its corridor investigations to support land use decision making in the wider Newcastle area by the City of Newcastle and New South Wales Department of Planning and Environment.
“Significant investigation work has already been carried out around broader precinct and city planning, as well as an alignment that integrates with future land use,” Ms Zycki said.
“The New South Wales Government is keen to finalise this transport corridor to ensure future infrastructure needs are being properly considered. Finalising the preservation of the light rail corridor will also provide certainty for developers in the Newcastle CBD, particularly in the precinct around the Newcastle Interchange.
“Preserving the corridor will also include work around the Broadmeadow regionally significant growth area, with the Department of Planning and Environment leading an exercise for the redevelopment of the Broadmeadow area, including housing and a major sport and entertainment hub.”
Transport for NSW expects its findings from investigations for a preferred corridor option to be completed in coming months and will subsequently publish a report outlining this option.
Stakeholders including Council, the New South Wales Department of Planning and Environment, and Hunter and Central Coast Development Corporation continue to be engaged in these investigations with Transport for NSW.
The New South Wales Government has committed to delivering Strategic Regional Integrated Transport Plans for the nine regions across New South Wales identified by the Department of Planning and Environment, including the Hunter.
The Hunter plan will set the direction for continuing to improve every part of the region’s transport system for the benefit of passengers, the community and the economy.
