THE state government has labelled Nelson Bay as one of the Lower Hunter’s strategic centres for prosperity and growth.
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The Hunter Regional Plan will guide land use planning priorities and decisions over the next 20 years but will leave most of the responsibility with councils.
Nelson Bay NOW, a group recently formed to drive rejuvenation of the CBD, has welcomed the plan.
“I’m pleased that they’ve highlighted Nelson Bay as a strategic centre,” Tomaree Business Chamber president and Nelson Bay NOW member Ryan Palmer said.
“We hope this means we can get on the front foot and push ahead with an overall plan of prosperity for Nelson Bay, not just the extension of Yacaaba Street to the water, or building car parks.”
Nelson Bay is treated separately Raymond Terrace and Medowie to the relief of Tomaree Residents and Ratepayers Association planning committee convener Nigel Waters.
“It’s more consistent with our vision for the area,” Mr Waters said.
“We’ve got to encourage development but we should do it without killing the goose that lays the golden egg.”
Mr Waters, also a member of The Greens and a Nelson Bay NOW committee member, urged caution with building heights.
“We’re not opposed to high density living necessarily or a modest increase to building heights,” he said.
“[But] we must preserve the unique character of the Bay.”
The plan also noted that health care was Nelson Bay’s largest employer with an ageing population that will only continue to grow.
For Raymond Terrace the plan aims to support its role as the main service centre in the local government area and the provision of retail, government, civic and professional services.
The plan also highlights the need to investigate better social, transport and economic connections to surrounding communities and centres across the greater Newcastle area aiming for 30 minute commute times.
The Kings Hill urban release area is named in the plan alongside Medowie and Fern Bay as being important to future housing needs.