Project Update

Thanks for having your say on the draft place strategy!

On 25 March 2025, Council voted to unanimously adopt the place strategy and request that the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces issue a Ministerial Direction under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 to give the place strategy legal effect.

• View the adopted Broadmeadow Place Strategy
• View the Council Report and Meeting Minutes
• Read the Engagement and Submissions Report
• Read the Aboriginal Engagement Outcomes Report

Housing the Hunter - A plan for renewal at Broadmeadow

City of Newcastle, in partnership with the NSW Government developed the Broadmeadow Place Strategy, to guide future development in the area, and provide the opportunity for additional housing, jobs and population growth, as well as a world-class sports and entertainment precinct.

The place strategy is a key planning document which provides a blueprint for how the area will change over the next 30 years and caters for an increased population. Informed by technical studies, the strategy shows locations for future housing, employment, public and open spaces, transport corridors, a sport, leisure and entertainment precinct, areas of cultural heritage, and new community amenities.

The Broadmeadow precinct is approximately 313 hectares of land, primarily within Broadmeadow and Hamilton North. It also extends along Belford Street and Tudor Streets, and includes small parts of Hamilton, Hamilton East and New Lambton.

Broadmeadow's central location, existing and future public transport opportunities, government owned land and large industrial sites provide an opportunity for urban renewal, including the opportunity to enhance the sports and entertainment precinct to attract more national and international events.

The vision for Broadmeadow

The vision for Broadmeadow is a vibrant destination and loveable place with highly connected and distinct neighbourhoods that balance the needs of a dynamic and growing community.

The seven strategic directions below guide the delivery of the place strategy vision.

Click on the icons to learn more about what they represent.

Developing and delivering the vision

Early community engagement and technical investigations have helped to inform the place strategy and accompanying structure plan, and nine different sub-precincts. The structure plan is a high-level spatial plan that identifies the precinct boundary and locations of infrastructure and desired land uses such as housing, commercial, sport and entertainment, and open space.

A rezoning plan (Explanation of Intended Effect) prepared by the NSW Government which is informed by the Broadmeadow Place Strategy will seek to rezone certain parcels of government-owned land and unlock housing supply. This will catalyse development and signifies the first step in realising the long-term vision of the place strategy. To find out more about the rezoning plan, visit the NSW Government Planning Portal.

The project applies to the area known as the Broadmeadow Regionally Significant Growth Area identified in the Hunter Regional Plan 2041.

A map of the precinct is provided below showing places like Hunter Park, including McDonald Jones Stadium and the Entertainment Centre, Broadmeadow Train Station and Broadmeadow Locomotive Depot which are included in the precinct.

The structure plan is a high-level spatial plan that identifies the precinct boundary and locations of infrastructure and land uses such as housing, commercial, sport and entertainment, and open space. Use the arrows below to navigate between the map and information about the key features.

Use the arrows below to explore visualisations of what the future of Broadmeadow could look like.

Thanks for having your say!

During public exhibition, 333 submissions were received relating to the place strategy. All feedback received was reviewed and considered to inform updates to the final place strategy.

Following exhibition, further investigations into heritage, social infrastructure, infrastructure contributions, staging, transport, drainage and flooding were undertaken.

Several changes to the place strategy have been made including:

• Amendments to clarify the proportion of affordable housing that is to be provided on NSW Government land. This is to ensure the place strategy is consistent with NSW Government policy.
• Recommendations from the Aboriginal engagement process and updated implementation actions.
• Inclusion of an action for CN to prepare a precinct-wide integrated transport strategy to address car parking, active transport, fast and light rail.
• Further detail on timing and responsibilities for public infrastructure delivery for flood mitigation, transport and social infrastructure.
• Amendments to implementation actions in response to amendments.
• Minor changes for clarity to reflect mapping changes, formatting, minor text changes, process updates, including reference to Sydney to Newcastle high-speed rail project.
• Reference to the Cameron's Hill Heritage Conservation Area.

Check out the Engagement and Submissions Report for further information.

Next Steps

• The Department's first move rezoning plan has been progressing in parallel with the place strategy and is nearing finalisation.
• A Delivery Plan will be prepared for the precinct in collaboration with a range of NSW Government agencies and CN. This plan will investigate the roles and responsibilities required to deliver the outcomes identified in the place strategy including delivery of State and regional infrastructure.
• CN is also currently developing a Local Infrastructure Contributions Plan in line with the Broadmeadow Place Strategy. This will outline the rate levied on new developments to contribute toward the cost of local community infrastructure needed to support new residents and growth in this precinct, such as roads, footpaths, sporting facilities, parks and playgrounds.
• We will continue to keep the community updated as the project progresses.