BY JESSICA ROUSE

A block of land next to Hunter Stadium is bringing some competition with a developer coming forward wanting to build a hotel, but plans already in the works have other ideas.

It’s been reported a Broadmeadow masterplan for the 63 hectare site will involve a major overhaul including a new entertainment centre, sporting facilities and possibly medium- to high-density housing.

Venues NSW is preparing a draft masterplan for the site which isn’t available yet but already it’s copping backlash from local MP’s.

Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp didn’t want to opening comment on the matter, but has said the land shouldn’t be flogged off for housing.

“I don’t think we should be using world class sporting facilities to build high density housing by any means, so I think a hotel may well be appropriate if you’ve got a centre of excellence and a new entertainment centre and a whole lot of people coming to regional facilities – it may be appropriate,” said Tim Crakanthorp.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald has hit back, saying there aren’t any firm plans laid down yet and the Labor Party need to decide if they’re for affordable housing, or not.

“They seem to be chopping and changing about how they regard public property and Crown Lands and public land so its a bit of, pardon the pun, a bit of grandstanding going on there, just hold fire for a couple more months and we’ll have a draft out there for everybody to have their say,” said Scot MacDonald.

“It is early days for the local member to be saying land should be reserved for this or reserved for that. I’ll just say that they came out last weekend saying 25 per cent of land should be mandated for affordable housing so we’re looking for a bit of consistency from the Labor party.”