Community invited to have their say on the future of Broadmeadow

City of Newcastle is inviting the community to provide feedback on a 30-year plan that outlines how housing, employment opportunities and public spaces are developed in Broadmeadow. 

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Councillors voted unanimously last night to place the Draft Broadmeadow Place Strategy on public exhibition next month for six weeks. 

The Strategy presents a shared vision to revitalise the 313-hectare precinct, with up to 20,000 new homes for 40,000 people, and 15,000 jobs to be created, while retaining Broadmeadow as the region’s premier sport and entertainment destination. 

It was developed by City of Newcastle in collaboration with the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) in response to the NSW Government's Rezoning Pathways Program, which identified Broadmeadow as one of 10 precincts to significantly contribute to housing supply across NSW. 

The precinct includes areas of Broadmeadow, Hamilton, Hamilton North, and Hamilton East. 

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the Broadmeadow Place Strategy will help set the vision, direction and guide where key infrastructure and services should be located. 

"Broadmeadow offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to deliver vital affordable housing, jobs and infrastructure to support our housing strategy, as well as access to quality public open spaces and improved leisure facilities in the heart of Newcastle," Cr Nelmes said. 

“The NSW Government has been working in partnership with City of Newcastle to develop the Place Strategy. We are the only Council in NSW involved in such a partnership, ensuring early input into the strategic planning for the renewal of the Broadmeadow precinct. 

"Our vision for Broadmeadow is to be a vibrant destination with highly connected neighbourhoods that balance the needs of a dynamic community and growing Newcastle.  

"The draft Broadmeadow Place Strategy provides strategic direction on how to achieve that vision.

"I encourage the community to take this opportunity to have their say so that together we can plan for Broadmeadow’s future and create a new and enhanced place for people to live in and visit for years to come.” 

To support the supply of new housing, DPHI will also release a discussion paper that proposes the development of more than 3,000 new homes on certain parcels of government-owned land as part of the first stage.  

This will be placed separately on public exhibition by the NSW Government. 

Cr Nelmes said feedback from the community and stakeholders will help ensure the Place Strategy is fit for purpose and comes with the social, community and transport infrastructure required for a growing community. 

"There have been many plans and promises for this site for many years, it's great to have the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure now leading community engagement to ensure that all our current users and future residents are included in the plans," Cr Nelmes said. 

"It's vital that any future changes incorporate the continued operation of the PCYC, Newcastle Basketball, Newcastle Tennis, Broadmeadow Magic and Newcastle Show in the precinct, together with significantly enhanced public community open space, indoor sports and leisure and aquatic facilities. 

"We support the advocacy from the Hunter Community Alliance for a minimum of 30 per cent of new homes to be set aside as social and affordable homes in perpetuity as part of any residential development that goes ahead. 

"We also support the integration of transport planning principles via the inclusion of the extension of the light rail corridor to Broadmeadow. Increases in population must come with commensurate investment into public transport infrastructure across the city. 

"It is really important to advocate strongly and clearly our expectations for this 30-year vision, and for what is delivered in the next decade in particular." 

The outcomes of the Draft Broadmeadow Place Strategy public exhibition will be reported back to Council later this year.