As part of the Hunter JO’s strategic theme of connectivity, we have been continuing our advocacy around transport planning in the Hunter region. In late October, we sent out correspondence to State MPs and Ministers from the Hunter JO and the Hunter Transport Planning Alliance.
The Hunter JO, Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) NSW, NSW Property Council Hunter Chapter, Dantia, the Committee for the Hunter and Business Hunter collaborated to produce Partnering for Growth: a document outlining the priorities, opportunities and recommendations for reform to provide better employment, housing and economic development outcomes.
This correspondence also presented an opportunity for State Government to partner with the Hunter region to accelerate the State’s recovery from the pandemic and grow the economy. This report has identified that there is a funding deficit and a lack of strategic and joined-up planning and infrastructure delivery needed for the region to deliver jobs, growth and housing.
The three steps identified in this report to address these issues include:
- Clear the development backlog – working with NSW government to unlock employment and housing developments stuck in the planning pipeline
- Better integration of planning and infrastructure – adapting existing regional governance structures and planning processes
- Transformational leadership – we share State objectives for recovery and growth and argue that the Hunter has the scale and capacity to make an even stronger contribution
There is an opportunity to develop regional governance models for a more strategic and joined-up approach to land use and transport planning, infrastructure investment and service delivery in the Hunter.
Keep up to date with our projects HERE