RDA Hunter launches Urban Planning for the Hunter’s Future

Published: 18th September 2012

RDA Hunter (New South Wales) recently launched an issues paper outlining the benefits of the lower Hunter metropolitan plan to secure the region’s future.

The key theme of the paper Urban Planning for the Hunter’s Future is that the lower Hunter be considered a combined urban area that works together to present itself as a major city. This is the first time that a concept such as this has been proposed in the Hunter. In developing the paper RDA Hunter considered the Council of Australian Government’s (COAG) criteria for cities planning.

As one of Australia’s 18 major cities, the future for the Hunter consists of a lower Hunter metropolitan area and is a major economic driver for Australia. The lower Hunter metropolitan area consists of Cessnock, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Newcastle and Port Stephens local government areas. They are the regions most densely populated and constitute the Newcastle Statistical District for Australian government processes.

“To date, the COAG Reform Council has focused on plans for capital cities. RDA Hunter is calling for the Hunter to unite and develop an integrated plan for the Hunter urban area. Having a metropolitan plan will assist in leveraging future infrastructure funds,” said RDA Hunter Executive Officer Todd Williams.

Urban Planning for the Hunter’s Future was launched by Mr Williams at the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) Conference held at Newcastle city hall recently.

During his key note address at the conference, Mr Williams outlined the joint planning in progress to ensure a liveable, sustainable and productive region into the future.

For more information about the Urban Planning for the Hunter’s Future paper and RDA Hunter, visit the RDA Hunter website.

(Pictured above) Todd Williams launching the Urban Planning for the Hunter’s Future paper at the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) Conference held in Newcastle recently.