As the NSW government's vision for a world-class sporting and entertainment precinct at Broadmeadow sharpens into focus, backed by councils of the Lower Hunter, the race is on to unlock the full potential of the tentatively named Hunter Park.
The concept, as endorsed by all Cabinet ministers of the NSW government, and identified in February as a priority project by Infrastructure Australia, encompasses 63 hectares of land surrounding McDonald Jones Stadium, the Newcastle Entertainment Centre and Newcastle Showground, and is just five kilometres from the Newcastle city centre.
The area has been earmarked to undergo a complete transformation, incorporating a mix of state-of-the-art sporting facilities, leisure and entertainment spaces, commercial offices and accommodation, while catering for an anticipated 24 per cent population increase by 2041 through the provision of more than 3,000 new homes, including much-needed social and affordable housing.
Adaptable, multi-purpose spaces that can cater for a diverse range of sporting and major events would support sustainable growth in Greater Newcastle, particularly if the plan integrates public transport, cycleways and pedestrian footpaths.
The world-class sporting facilities are particularly exciting for our region. Concept plans identify that this could be the site of a future Commonwealth Games, so it's not unrealistic to think that we could see Olympic standard aquatic and athletics facilities, accessible to the community, and supporting infrastructure evocative of Sydney Olympic Park.
Importantly, delivering Hunter Park is a key action item of the NSW government's Greater Newcastle Metropolitan Plan delivered by Planning Minister Rob Stokes in 2018.
We, along with our fellow mayors of the Lower Hunter, formed a steering committee, representing City of Newcastle, Cessnock, Lake Macquarie, Maitland and Port Stephens councils, to help guide the implementation of the Metropolitan Plan. This includes taking the reins and turning Hunter Park from conception to reality.
To ensure we maximise the precinct's potential, a key, substantial geographical area within it must be unlocked to pave the way for the development of new, sustainable community infrastructure.
In March 2020, the five mayors of Greater Newcastle wrote to the NSW government to express our strong collective support for a carefully considered move of harness racing from Broadmeadow to the City of Cessnock local government area.
These decisions aren't taken lightly, and we recognise the contribution the Harness Racing Club has made in Newcastle over many decades. The harness racing community has notably contributed to many local charities through its fundraising efforts, benefiting John Hunter Children's Hospital Kids Club, St Vincent de Paul, the Mark Hughes Foundation and ovarian cancer research, to name a few.
The good news is that since the inception of the Hunter Park concept, the City of Cessnock has been working to secure the relocation of harness racing to the area. It's a win-win, creating jobs and stimulating the local economy, while cementing Cessnock's synonymy with harness racing, built upon a rich history with the equine industry.
It follows the move by Racing NSW last September, led by chief executive Peter V'landys, to purchase the historic Cessnock Racecourse from Newcastle Jockey Club, with a view to construct a world-class pre-training and thoroughbred aftercare facility, effectively ceasing regular race meets that have been held in Cessnock continuously since 1876.
While the decision to redevelop Cessnock Racecourse into a training centre is great for local jobs and will provide an economic boost, losing harness racing altogether is not something Cessnock City is prepared to do.
Cessnock is a proud horse racing city and returning harness racing is a sure-fire way to seal the industry's viability and its contribution to job diversity in the region well into the future.
Along with City of Newcastle, and in consultation with Harness Racing NSW, City of Cessnock has been working with the NSW government to identify the best possible site that will inject the greatest economic and social benefits.
Together, the construction of Hunter Park and relocation of harness racing to Cessnock will create gold-standard facilities for the community, ensure Cessnock's rich relationship with harness racing continues and provide thousands of jobs across Greater Newcastle.
We hope the NSW Treasurer will see this huge opportunity for the Hunter and allocate the required funding to make this relocation happen when he announces the state budget next month.
This funding will serve as the catalyst for job creating infrastructure in both Newcastle and Cessnock.
We say it's time to get these projects off and racing.
