The Newcastle Airport precinct is currently undergoing a $250 million redevelopment, including upgrades to the terminal building, runway, and supporting infrastructure. The upgrade offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the region’s growth and diversification generating 4,410 full time jobs and $12.7 billion in regional economic benefit through increased freight and stimulation of the visitor economy. The funding includes $121 million in Federal funding, with the remaining $184 million funded by the airport’s shareholder Councils.
To maximise the benefits of the Airport upgrade, the Hunter Joint Organisation, in collaboration with partners, hosted a roundtable discussion in 2021, and a two-day summit in 2022 to boost collaboration, planning and advocacy to capitalise on the Newcastle Airport runway and terminal upgrade. Outcomes from the summit are at the bottom of the page.
As a result of the recommendations from the summit, two projects were completed with funding from NSW Government:
Hunter Global Tourism focused on attracting international visitors to the region.
Hunter Airports’ Strategy focused on increasing the regions international import/export capabilities.
Hunter Global Tourism
The ten councils of the region, through the Hunter Joint Organisation, in partnership with the Newcastle Airport and Destination Sydney Surrounds North have released the Hunter Tourism Strategy and supporting Business Case in the lead up to the Newcastle Airport’s opening of their International Terminal next year.
Aimed at increasing international visitation and the duration of stays in the Hunter Region, the recommendations in the Strategy are a result of a consultation with key players in the tourism industry, reflecting a shared commitment to the sustainable growth of the region’s tourism sector.
Implementation of the Strategy anticipates:
- Local jobs for local people with Increased visitation and spending, enhancing economic flow throughout the region.
- A boost in mid-week bookings, contributing to a more stable and consistent tourism market.
- Attraction of external investment, driving further development and growth.
- Improved lifestyle for residents through enhanced local facilities and services.
- Improved regional accessibility, making the Hunter more connected and easier to explore for both visitors and locals.
The investment required to implement the Tourism Strategy is $3.85m over three years and is expected to increase international visitation by at least 1%, providing an additional $268m flowing through the Hunter region in the next three years.
The initiative highlights the critical role of tourism in supporting a wide array of local businesses – from cafes, restaurants, and retail shops to taxi services, hotels, and travel agencies, emphasizing the creation of local jobs for local people.
Hunter Region’s unique attractions, world-renowned vineyards, rich cultural heritage, breathtaking landscapes, and some of Australia’s, if not the world’s, finest beaches will undoubtedly captivate international tourists.
Download the Export Ready Tourism Marketing Strategy
Hunter Air Freight Strategy
The Hunter JO have released the Hunter Region Aviation and Air Freight Strategy action plan identifying priority planning and infrastructure needs.
A prioritised action plan was developed to enable the region to unlock the opportunities of international connectivity at Newcastle Airport that will enable new investment, business diversification and local jobs.
The Strategy explores the critical role our region’s airports play in supporting essential service delivery across the Hunter region.
Through extensive research and consultation, the Strategy has determined the highest priority investment identified to unlock the value and opportunity in international air freight for the region is the construction of a cargo terminal at Newcastle Airport.
The Strategy also identifies supportive activities to help ensure success and participation of freight movements across the region, including support for maintaining operations at all regional airports. The region’s airports face several challenges with regards to commercial sustainability and increasing encroachment. Additional activities have also been identified to unify economic development activities across the region to strengthen our influencing power.
Download the Strategy below to find out more about this opportunity for our region!

Background
A Flightpath for Action
Download our Hunter Global: The Flightpath to our Future report that sets out the
vision and actions for the region to take advantage of these international opportunities.
This report discusses the economic opportunities created by the Airport’s upgrade as ‘above the wing’ – the movement of people between destinations – and ‘below the wing’ – the movement of goods and freight between destinations. Hunter Global’s success relies on the Hunter region capitalising on these new economic opportunities, guided by a shared vision for the region’s prosperity.
Whole-of-region Hunter Global summit: 17 & 18 February 2022
Access presentations from the summit HERE.
The Hunter JO hosted a whole-of-region summit to activate the entire region around the opportunities the runway upgrade offers. A recording of the summit and speakers’ presentations are available on the Hunter JO YouTube page.
Hunter Global: Our international future roundtable November 2021
To kick start Hunter Global, the Hunter JO hosted an online roundtable in November 2021.
Invited representatives from the region’s key industry, government and community sectors came together to determine the opportunities the runway upgrade offers, and the gaps and barriers that stand in their way.
Find out more about the Roundtable outcomes HERE.
Our Partners
This project was funded by the NSW Government.