THE new town of Kings Hill is back on the cards with the developer offering to pay for the construction of a $36.5 million road interchange.
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Plans for the township north of Raymond Terrace have been on hold pending the construction of an interchange, or flyover, to direct traffic from the Pacific Highway to the area.
Kings Hill Development (KHD), the organisation behind the project, wants to move quickly and start developing the urban release area, but nothing can be done until the interchange is built.
According to the developer the Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) is already calling for the $32.5 million in development contributions with no date set on when the interchange will be built.
The developer has proposed to pay the $36.5 million to have the interchange built now, rather than paying the contribution and having to wait for the RMS to schedule the works.
"It is a complex issue, but we are in discussion with the government and it is progressing well," Jason Wasiak, the principal urban planner said.
"The delay to date is caused by the state government's requirement for infrastructure to be in place prior to housing development but no clear mechanism resolved for funding and delivery of the interchange."
According to the developer the NSW Department of Planning, Port Stephens Council and the five landowners are all supporting the move, but final approval has to come from the RMS.
"The current status is that KHD submitted the offer to the state government in October and the process is now in the hands of the state government," he said.
If approved construction could start as early as next year, with plans already drawn up.
KHD will pay the money upfront and retrospectively claim the $4 million difference in additional spending from landowner contributions to the state government.
Kings Hill is expected to see $100 million injected into the site in the next two to three years. This includes the interchange, power, water, sewer installation, preparation works for a new school and more.
The project is forecast to provide 1000 jobs during construction and 200 to 300 positions for ongoing employment. A DA has for the first 200 homes has been lodged with Port Stephens Council pending approval.