Lower Hunter Lands Project

In October 2006 the NSW State Government released the Lower Hunter Regional Strategy (LHRS). The primary purpose of this strategy is to ensure adequate land in appropriate locations is available to sustainably accommodate the projected housing and employment needs of the region's growing population.

The strategy plans for 160,000 new residents, 115,000 new homes, 66,000 new jobs and six regional centres based around the regional city of Newcastle to be established in the Lower Hunter over the next 25 years.

Coal & Allied is a major landowner in this region, owning 4,187 hectares. We propose to transfer 80 per cent of these lands (more than 3300 hectares) to the government for permanent conservation in the Lower Hunter as an offset for proposed development on the remainder of the land.

With the remainder of the land (around 840 hectares) Coal & Allied will undertake broad community engagement to determine development opportunities that aim to create long-term economic and social benefits for the region. Coal & Allied is proposing to develop around 7,000 homes in the area which is around 6 per cent of the overall growth.